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Last Updated On: February 12th, 2025
Let’s step back in time for a moment to the 2019 NBA draft. Two high-octane prospects dominated the discourse heading into the draft: Duke’s Zion Williamson and Murray State’s Ja Morant. Though the two couldn’t have been more different – Williamson with his massive frame and Morant the swashbuckler – they shared an elite level of tantalizing athleticism.
Each player’s hype carried over to their rookie cards. Only one year removed from the Luka Doncic-Trae Young debate, Williamson-Morant fueled the early 2020s card boom. But what if there was a player whose skillset earned comps to both Williamson and Morant?
Enter Amen Thompson. The second-year star for the Houston Rockets has helped propel the Space City squad from the league’s druthers into legitimate contention. In this post, we’ll highlight why you should be on the lookout for Amen Thompson rookie cards, which ones are worth targeting, and his future career outlook.
Let’s explore!
Table of Contents
Who is Amen Thompson?
You’d be forgiven if your memory of Amen Thompson’s draft night is fuzzy. Taken fourth overall by the Rockets, the 2023 draft discourse was dominated by one name: Victor Wembanyama. The rest of the field – including talents like Thompson, Brandon Miller (#2 pick), and Dereck Lively (#12 pick) – were largely overshadowed by the French phenom’s extensive shadow.
Coming out of high school, Amen Thompson wasn’t even the most hyped prospect in his family. His twin brother Ausar was given a five-star rating by Rivals, while Amen was left with a paltry four-star rating.
Another element hampering Thompson’s hype was his limited national exposure. Foregoing college, Amen joined Overtime Elite in the G-League (his brother joined him). The Thompson twins weren’t even the most highly-touted G-League prospects that year, either. Over on Ignite, Scoot Henderson (the future #3 pick) was largely viewed as the foil to Wembanyama, highlighted by the pair’s preseason duels.
Thompson’s final stats for Overtime Elite weren’t eye-popping. If anything, his 2.1 steals per game stand out much more than his 14 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. After another season in the minors, Thompson declared for the 2023 draft.
Two years into the league, Thompson is rarely deployed by the Rockets as a starter. But that shouldn’t distract from the fact that Houston’s best five-man lineups feature Thompson. He’s a budding star, which only begs the question: what players is he most comparable to?
Amen Thompson Pro Comps
Ja Morant/Zion Williamson
This one comes straight from one of the most respected draft guides in the business: The Ringer’s yearly Pre-Draft Guide. In 2023, Kevin O’Connor (then of The Ringer, now at Yahoo!) suggested two comps for Thompson: “tall Ja Morant” and “beanpole Zion Williamson.”
Thompson’s physical gifts don’t precisely mirror Morant and Williamson, hence the anatomical qualifiers. But from a purely athleticism comparison, it’s spot on.
Additionally, Thompson has strong positional interchangeability, much like peak Zion, whose vision allowed him to play point forward and muscle allowed him to play as a stretch five. Like Morant, Thompson’s most glaring drawback is his lack of a shooting stroke. But also like Morant, Thompson more than makes up for the lack of a shot by punishing defenses at the rim: he’s connecting on 75% of his chances within three feet of the hoop this season.
As far as cards are concerned, we all know what happened to Williamson and Morant’s cards. Both players experienced a substantial spike, followed by a steep decline as the hobby plateaued, and each player saw their on-court time plummet by injury and (in Morant’s case) suspension.
Penny Hardaway
Another fun comparison is a bit of a throwback to an entirely different era of professional basketball. Penny Hardaway formed a potent duo with a young Shaquille O’Neal on the Orlando Magic in the early-to-mid 1990s.
While Thompson has a bit of a way to go as a distributor to match Hardaway’s prowess, the two share their uber athleticism and playmaking to match. Thompson, for all of his poor scoring, is already a better shooter than Hardaway, suggesting a higher ceiling for the Rockets’ swing than the Magic legend.
If we’re talking cards, Hardaway’s career is certainly one to emulate. History has been kind to the point guard, likely buffeted by his rediscovery through ESPN’s 30 for 30 series. Like all players, he experienced a nice boost in the early 2020s but has seen his hype remain high, albeit somewhat level.
John Wall
One last recent comp worth batting around is John Wall. The Kentucky Wildcat and Washington Wizard star has seen his star fade due to his rapid, injury-fueled decline. But once upon a time, Wall was one of the strongest, quickest, and slyest guards on the court.
From a defensive aspect, Thompson fits the bill. Ditto from a strength perspective. Neither player has trouble getting downhill and finding the basket. We’re already seeing Thompson blow by players, using a mix of speed and brawn to wreak havoc in the paint.
Amen Thompson Outlook
As you might have already guessed, we’re extremely bullish on Thompson’s future outlook. The Rockets are in an excellent position to contend in the Western Conference for the rest of the decade. The team is young, hungry, and led by a proven winner in Ime Udoka.
Further, Thompson’s role with the Rockets should only grow as the team consolidates its young talent. For now, Houston still straddles the line between rebuilder and contender, with older veterans like Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks mixed with young assets like Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun. At some point, the Rockets must decide who is part of the long-term agenda and who should be sacrificed for better talent. For the here and now, Houston appears content with keeping the team intact as they made minimal changes through this year’s trade deadline.
Rest assured, however: Amen Thompson isn’t going anywhere.
Betting on Thompson isn’t without its risks, however. Morant, Williamson, Wall, and Hardaway share more than electricity; all saw or have seen their potential dimmed by injury. Such is often the case with explosive guards: they push the envelope in their youth, only to eventually overdo it.
Perhaps Thompson is different. For his sake, we sure hope so. Nonetheless, the injury risk is there. As you explore his rookie cards, be conscious of this fact; given the track record of similar talents, getting in on Thompson low is much better and selling high.
Collecting Amen Thompson Rookie Cards
When considering investing in Amen Thompson rookie cards, keep a few things in mind. First, significant buzz around the player makes this a less-than-optimal time to invest. Consider monitoring the market over the next few months, especially into the offseason, to see if his prices come down.
In all likelihood, his card values should come down in the late spring and early summer. That’s because, though this Rockets team is talented, it’s probably facing a first or second-round bounce from the playoffs. Thompson’s card values should cool as a result.
That said, we’re still optimistic about Thompson’s long-term viability. A dropoff in a few months isn’t a sign that the hobby’s permanently moved away from him. Instead, it shows that interest has shifted because of real-time results. For instance, if the Lakers go on a playoff tear, expect Luka Doncic and LeBron James’ cards to draw significant attention.
The hobby will come back to Thompson in due time. Be sure to have a plan and pounce when the time is right.
Amen Thompson Rookie Cards to Target
You’ll want to hone in on 2023 when hunting for Amen Thompson rookie cards. His Silver Prizm rookie card in Gem Mint condition sold most recently for around $200, though it’s gone for as high as $250.
A few weeks ago, we discussed how important pop counts are when determining whether to purchase a card. If we consult Amen Thompson’s Silver Prizm PSA 10 pop count, it sits at 831.
Thompson’s figure isn’t the most concerning in the world – Brandon Miller’s Silver Prizm PSA 10 pop count is north of 2,000, and Scoot Henderson’s Silver Prizm PSA 10 is at 949 – but should be monitored nonetheless.
It’s certainly a sign that the hobby is onto Thompson’s buzz as a playmaker and should be continually monitored.
If you’re feeling extra motivated, Thompson’s /25 Mojo Prizm parallel recently sold on eBay for around $7,000. Consider that as recently as October 2024, that same card sold for just $1,500. These numbers suggest waiting for Thompson’s cards to cool a bit.
Shockingly, there may be some value to be found in Amen Thompson RPA cards. An RPA National Treasures /3 sold on eBay on February 11 for just $5,750, well short of the unsigned Prizm parallel mentioned above. Still, other RPAs are going for less than $600.
Amen Thompson Rookie Cards on eBay
The following eBay auction results are the best Thompson rookies getting the most bids on eBay. The results order and price ranges can be adjusted with the form filters below.
Verdict: Invest in Amen Thompson Rookie Cards Now?
With his explosive blend of athleticism and defensive instincts, Amen Thompson is solidifying his place as one of the best picks in the 2023 draft. He has x-factors going for him as well: he plays in a big market and for an up-and-coming team. The best case scenario is Thompson develops into a beloved athlete we get to enjoy for 10+ years.
On the flip side, there are real reasons for caution. Thompson is swimming in waters infested with gifted athletes whose bodies ultimately let them down. John Wall and Penny Hardaway are fun comps that are not without downsides. How many times will we have to watch with bated breath as Thompson craters back to earth after an epic dunk, hoping he bounces right back up?
Additionally, the market for Thompson is red hot. In other words, it’s a seller’s market, so buyer’s will be paying a premium for his cards or should be extra selective in choosing what to buy. It may be worth waiting for his stock to dip just a bit before adding a bunch of Amen Thompson rookie cards to your cart.
Even still, Thompson is a strong bet to continue developing into an elite-level NBA player. With such a ceiling, he’d fit well in any personal collection.