The NBA boasts a rich history of twins making their mark in the league. Over the years, there have been several sets of twins who have showcased their basketball talents on the grand stage. The presence of the Thompson twins in the NBA shows how the league’s lasting success is shaped by a variety of talents and interesting stories. They recently made history by being the first siblings to be chosen in the top five of the same draft, and they were picked consecutively. Amen was chosen as the fourth overall pick by the Houston Rockets, and Ausar was selected by the Detroit Pistons at the fifth spot in the draft. As a Rookie, Amen averages 6.3 points per game, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. Ausar averages 11.1 points per game, 9.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game.
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The twins have a unique story as they decided to skip their final year of high school and give up their chance to play college basketball, choosing to join Overtime Elite (OTE), a new basketball league in Atlanta for players aged 16 to 20. Overtime Elite started in 2021 as an alternative for young players. It is run by Overtime, a media company for Gen Z sports fans. Players earn a minimum $100,000 salary (which they can decline to keep college eligibility), have access to top-notch training facilities, and receive an education with classes on skills like financial literacy, media training, and mental well-being. Amen and Ausar became notable players by joining the league’s first season. Although a risky move, it paid off as they excelled in the league, showcasing their skills in high jumps, impressive blocks, and consistently creating viral highlights.
Their successes in OTE have translated to the professional level and is noticed by their coaches and teammates on their respective teams. Pistons power forward Isaiah Stewart raved about Ausar and his talents.
“He’s ready,” Stewart said at Pistons media day. “He already knows good team basketball and I think he’s ready to play day one. A lot of wow moments.”
Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka, also spoke highly of Amen Thompson early in the team’s training camp when he was interviewed by Vanessa Richardson of AT&T SportsNet SW .
“His pace is real; his size, athleticism,” Udoka expressed. “He has that burst so he really ignites the fastbreak on his own so he has been great.”
