Scoot Henderson wasn’t the only top pick injured in his NBA Summer League debut. Unfortunately, Rockets guard Amen Thompson, who was selected directly after Henderson at fourth overall, appeared to suffer a lower left leg injury late in the same game.
Amen Thompson exited the game with an apparent ankle injury. pic.twitter.com/h9MxRNorkw
— ESPN (@espn) July 8, 2023
Thompson was clearly in a lot of pain, but he was eventually able to gingerly walk off the court with assistance, according to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle.
A source tells ESPN’s Tim MacMahon that Thompson suffered a sprained ankle that isn’t considered serious. The 20-year-old said the team’s staff will determine whether or not he plays again in Summer League.
“It’s pretty sore,” Thompson said, per MacMahon.
Thompson showed flashes of tantalizing upside in his marquee matchup with Henderson, finishing with 16 points (on 6-of-13 shooting), five assists, four rebounds, four blocks and three steals in 28 minutes against the Trail Blazers. The Rockets wound up winning the game on an awesome Jabari Smith buzzer-beater.
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