Amen Thompson Blocking Wemby At The Rim To Secure A Rockets Victory Is One Of The More Insane Plays You'll Ever See

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By all accounts, the 2026-27 NBA season is billed as a big time leap season for Amen Thompson. Entering Year 4, an All NBA 1st Team caliber perimeter defender, a player many consider to be on the short list of best perimeter defenders in the NBA (along with his brother), an insane athlete and owner of a new $200M extension, Amen Thompson is primed to take another important leap. As his offensive game continues to evolve and develop, what makes Thompson so special is what he does on the other end. I'm not just talking about being a good defender. I'm talking about a caliber of defender that can swing the outcomes of games simply because of his defensive impact. There aren't a lot of players on the planet who can do that, but Amen Thompson certainly is. 

All you have to do is see his game winning block on Wemby. Easily one of the most ridiculous things I've ever seen on a basketball court

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Honest question. What's the point of being 7'7 or however tall Wemby is if you're not dunking the ball in this moment? Isn't that the whole point of having Wemby for this situation? He's taller and has a higher reach than everyone, so just give it to him and have him dunk it. Did he not know the clock/situation? Why attempt a soft ass layup/push in that spot and not hammer that shit with force? When you go up soft like that, you open the door for a super athlete/defender like Amen Thompson to make a play on the ball, which he managed to do. The timing, the execution, all of it was perfect. It's also completely avoidable if Wemby dunks the basketball. If anything, maybe he gets fouled.

All I know is there's no excuse for a 7'7 center to be blocked by a 6'7 wing in that spot. Considering Wemby was coming off his 1-13 shooting performance in their opening loss and then had a 51% TS% tonight combined with that ending, that's tough. He wants the hype and the love and to be the best player in the NBA, well now he's 0-2 and pretty much to blame for both losses. 

The crazy thing is we've seen Wemby dunk the ball from further out all the time. It's second nature for him, which is what makes that play so fascinating. The Rockets needed a 1 in a million prayer outcome, and they got it. That's the beauty of the NBA baby. Every night you're going to be treated to something you've never seen before, and I'd say this qualifies. Shotuout to the Rockets for their 2-0 start and shoutout Amen Thompson for one of the most ridiculous plays I'm sure we'll see all season. That ruled.