What an accomplishment!
Twin brothers Amen and Ausar Thompson have been playing basketball together their whole life. Two years ago, they gave up their senior year of high school to join the Overtime Elite league, an Atlanta-based accelerator program for high school and international prospective athletes that offers specialized player development and coaching, a rigorous academic program, and a base pay of at least $100,000 with equity in the company, Sports Illustrated reports. Both twins starred for Overtime’s City Reapers, capturing league titles and making a name for themselves. According to ESPN, during the 2023 NBA Draft, the twins made history as the first brothers to be selected as top 5 picks in the same NBA draft.
Amen was selected No. 4 overall by the Houston Rockets with the Detroit Pistons selecting Ausar at No. 5. This is the first time for brothers to be drafted in the top 5 of the same draft since the 1976 ABA-NBA merger and a historic moment in league history. Both brothers have joined teams desperately in need of some new energy. The Rockets finished 22-60, ranking 27th in offensive efficiency and 29th in defensive efficiency. Amen’s skills impressed scouts and he said he is excited to help usher in a new victorious season for the Rockets.
“Just being in the NBA, you know, playing with these athletic guys, I feel like my best brand of basketball is running and we’re a young team so that’s what we’re going to do,” said Amen.
On the flip side, the Pistons have gone 15 consecutive seasons without a win, the longest active drought in the NBA, finishing the past season 17-65. Ausar will be another fresh face to a team who also recently hired a new coach and he said he’s overjoyed.
“Super excited. I’m super excited to meet my coaches, meet my teammates and just grow with them. I’m trying to contend,” said Ausar.
While making history was not necessarily on their bingo cards, the brothers said it means a lot to them and their family that they are finally reaping the fruits of their labor.
“I think it’s kind of cool going first. It means a lot to my family. Me and Ausar, we were going to be happy whoever went first. But it means a lot to my family seeing all the hard work pay off. Us go back to back, be the first twins in the same draft to go top five, it means a lot,” Amen explained.
Their parents, Maya Wilson and Troy Thompson agreed, saying they were proud and this is only the beginning for their boys.
“There are no words really to express how I’m feeling. To see them back-to-back, that blows my mind. The world is just opening up to them. There’s [no] limit. So I’m just very excited about what’s in store so just very, very, happy,” said Wilson.
“The vision now is to become leaders on their team. Obviously, being at least first-team All-Rookie and maybe compete for Rookie of the Year. We’ve got big ambitions,” added Thompson.
Amen Thompson: “I’m losing everything, it’s like a bad divorce” pic.twitter.com/YSJ5jKRW1p
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) June 22, 2023
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But the dynamic duo said they first have to iron out who gets what. After living together for so long, this will be their first time separating and before they can fulfill their NBA dreams, they have to decide who gets most of the shared belongings.
“He got to keep the PS5, I’ve got to buy me one. That’s the main one so far. We’ve been fighting over shoes too … I’m losing everything, it’s like a bad divorce,” Amen joked.
Congratulations guys! We’re so proud of you!
Cover photo: Thompson Twins make history as first brothers to be top 5 picks in the same NBA draft/(l to r) Amen & Ausar Thompson at 2023 NBA Draft at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York/Photo Courtesy of Arturo Holmes/Getty Images