I feel like with his injury, and lack of playing time, Amen was not being talked about. I saw a few label him a bust, saw him going low in way too early redrafts, and being overlooked. In the last couple weeks the talks around amen have changed. This latter part of the year he’s started to put it together.
He’s the most athletic player in the NBA. I’m not going to say one of, nobody else who can jump as high as him and run as fast as him, is also 6ft 7, strong, explosive, and quick changing directions. This has lead him to being one of the best guard/wing defenders in the NBA, and if the all defense teams were still position less, and he were to start, would have a legitimate chance to make an all defensive team. He moves quick laterally and has great hands which’s makes him elite on ball. He is great recovering in the rare times he is beat. He’s good in passing lanes, giving him high steal numbers as well. He gambles but he’s so quick to pounce on point guards mistakes that his success rate makes it worth it.
He’s being used as a great connective piece on offense right now. He’s getting offensive boards, playmaking, setting some screens. That’s just in the half court, his speed makes him an open court weapon. He’s a great finisher, very comfortable with his left hand early. His offensive role has shifted, earlier in the year he was playing backup point guard and struggling to create. Now he is used as a player in the dunkers spot, who can play point forward in transition. He is a phenomenal off ball mover for someone who is a non shooter, will fit well around Sengun. The cuts Amen and Jabari do will make Sengun a huge threat. I could see them used like Aaron Gordon and Bruce brown during Denver’s title run.
His main glaring weakness is his shooting. I’m not sure if he’ll ever develop a good jumper as the indicators aren’t there.
I think amen will transition to a guard/point forward role later in his career as he becomes more comfortable self creating. His ceiling is insane and being completely overlooked. If he can get to near league average shooting he has virtually no flaws in his game. He still has the second highest ceiling in the class, and it’s not close.