Amen Thompson told Reed Shepard he was going to ‘punch him in the face’
The The Houston Rockets walked off the floor with Reed Shepard looking sensationalbut Amen Thompson he didn’t seem impressed, at least not in a serious way. His mix of honesty, swagger and playful toughness stole the conversation afterwards Rockets win over Washington Wizards. There was nothing subtle about his message. None of it was soft. And yet, in Houston’s locker room, it landed exactly as intended. The Rockets know their young core grows through moments like these, even when the words sound harsher than the sentiment.
“Amen he said to me in the hall just a minute ago,” Reed Sheppard he saidstill laughing, “he said, ‘But if you make another dribble when you’re open and there’s no shot, I’m going to punch you in the face.'” Thompson didn’t deny that. In fact, it doubled in size. When asked to confirm the quote, he simply said, “I said that.
A message wrapped in motivation
This was not anger. This was a competition. And from Thompson’s perspective, it was necessary. He wants the Rockets to play fast, trust the pass and punish defenses that hesitate to rotate. Meanwhile, Shepard is one of the purest shooters Houston has drafted in years. Thompson knows that. The team knows that. Even the Wizards noticed as they reviewed the Rockets’ preseason tape. So Thompson pushed Sheppard. In a league built on spacing and quick decisions, an open look is golden. That’s why Thompson refuses to let a teammate throw him.
The exchange also showed how quickly the Rockets’ chemistry is forming. No tension. No ego. Just two young guards pushing under the bright lights of a franchise ready to rise again. The Rockets want to be physical, fearless and precise. Thompson’s challenge captured it all in one loud, memorable line.
Basketball in Houston feels alive again. So the only remaining question is a simple one: How far can this young core push the Rockets when the pressure of the real season hits?
2025-11-13 18:49:00
