Why is Amen Thompson not playing tonight against Cleveland Cavaliers? Real reason explored

On Monday night, Amen Thompson will be on the sidelines as the Houston Rockets play in the Summer League final against the Cleveland Cavaliers. After being selected with the No. 4 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, the athletic forward didn't get much time to showcase his skills.

Most top picks don't play much in the Summer League anyway, but Amen Thompson was pulled early for different concerns. That was due to an injury he sustained on his debut performance.

While defending a shot at the rim, Thompson hit the ground in the midst of a crowd of players. He seemed fine at first, but things soon changed after a player landed on him awkwardly. The Houston Rockets then decided to get him out of the game.

Later that night, news emerged regarding Thompson's status. He had suffered a Grade 2 ankle sprain that is expected to keep him out for close to three weeks, essentially ending his time at the Summer League.

Before getting injured, Thompson was showing why he was a top-five pick in the draft. In the 28 minutes he played, Thompson posted a stat line of 16 points, four rebounds, five assists and three steals.

Without Thompson in the lineup, the Rockets take on the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Summer League final at 9:00 PM Eastern Time on ESPN.

Amen Thompson's injury doesn't appear to be a major cause for concern

At the moment, Houston Rockets fans are certainly worried about the newest addition to the team's core. That being said, they can now breathe a sigh of relief. Recent videos of the young guard seem to show him healing nicely.

Over the weekend, a video emerged of Thompson interacting with some fans at the Summer League. Along with having a smile on his face as he signed autographs and took pictures, he notably wasn't in any sort of protective boot or brace.

Since he is already out of a walking boot, it should be a good sign for Thompson and the Rockets ahead of the season. With still a few weeks until training camp, he has ample time to continue healing. More importantly, this shouldn't halt him from being in the lineup to officially start his rookie campaign.

Moving forward, Thomson has the chance to be part of one of the NBA's top young cores. Alongside Jalen Green and Jabari Smith Jr, the Rockets have an abudance of young talent. They appear ready to take the next step in their rebuild as well after having signed veterans like Fred VanVleet and Dillion Brooks.