Who are the Thompson twins in the NBA? Learn all there is to know about the freshly drafted twins Amen and Ausar Thompson.
The 2023 NBA draft was held at the Barclays Center last week, where Victor Wembenyama was drafted as the first overall pick by the San Antonio Spurs. However, the immense talent up for grabs at the draft did not stop there, as Brandon Miller and Scoot Henderson were drafted by the Charlotte Hornets and Portland Trail Blazers respectively. For the 4th and 5th picks, twins Amen and Ausar Thompson were drafted by the Houston Rockets and Detroit Pistons.
This article will tell you all you need to know about the Thompson twins, starting with Amen.
Who is Amen Thompson?
Here is all you need to know about Amen Thompson, the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.
Thompson was born on January 30, 2003, in Oakland, California. His parents are Troy Thompson and Maya Wilson. His older brother Troy Jr. once played for Prairie View A&M during his college basketball days. Their uncle Mark Thompson once participated at the 1992 Summer Olympics, representing Jamaica in the 400-meter hurdles event.
Amen stands at six feet seven inches (2.01 meters), which is tall for a point guard. What sets Thompson apart from other guards is his massive wingspan which measures six feet nine inches, per Sports Illustrated. His listed weight is 215 pounds (98 kilograms).
The Thompson family moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, so that the twin boys could play high school basketball a year early at Pine Crest School. Amen elevated his game during his sophomore season, averaging 16.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game for Pine Crest. He stepped it up a notch the following season, raising his averages to 20.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per contest during his junior year.
Amen led Pine Crest to the Class 4A state championship, scoring 43 points in a thrilling 90-83 double-overtime victory over Santa Fe High School. Amen decided to skip his senior season, opting to turn professional and sign a two-year contract with Overtime Elite (OTE), an Atlanta-based professional league for players aged 16 to 20. He played for Team OTE in the 2021-22 season, averaging 14 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.1 steals per contest.
Who is Ausar Thompson?
Here is all you need to know about Ausar Thompson, the fifth overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.
Ausar stands at six feet seven inches (2.01 meters). What sets Thompson apart from other guards is his enormous wingspan, which measures seven feet. That length is important for Ausar, who is a defensive-minded player. His listed weight is 207 pounds (94 kilograms).
Ausar earned second-team All-County honors during his sophomore season, averaging 17.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game for Pine Crest. He elevated his game the following season, raising his averages to 22.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per contest during his junior year. He helped Pine Crest capture the Class 4A state championship, scoring 20 points in a 90-83 double-overtime win over Santa Fe High School.
Ausar decided to skip his senior season, opting to turn professional instead. He signed a two-year contract with Overtime Elite (OTE) alongside his twin brother. OTE is a new professional league based in Atlanta for players in the 16-20 age bracket. He played for Team Elite in the 2021-22 season, averaging 14.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.2 blocks per contest. Ausar led his team to the championship, scoring 20 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in a 52-45 win over Team OTE in Game 3 of the Finals.
The Thompson twins teamed up in the 2022-23 season, with Ausar selecting Amen with the first pick in the league’s draft for the City Reapers. Ausar was named OTE MVP at the end of the regular season after averaging 16.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 2.4 steals per contest. He stepped up his game in the postseason, earning Finals MVP honors after leading the Reapers to a 3-0 series win against the YNG Dreamerz.
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