5 Key Reasons Why The Thompson Twins, Amen & Ausar, Are Dominating The NBA In The 2025-26 Season

The NBA is currently witnessing a historic phenomenon: the rise of Amen and Ausar Thompson. As of the current 2025-2026 season, the identical twin brothers, drafted back-to-back in the 2023 NBA Draft, have solidified their roles as foundational cornerstones for their respective franchises, the Houston Rockets and the Detroit Pistons. Their journey from the Overtime Elite (OTE) league to NBA stardom has been marked by explosive athleticism, defensive intensity, and rapid skill development, leading to some of the most compelling head-to-head matchups in recent league history.

Their individual development has been the headline news in the early to mid-2025-2026 campaign. Amen Thompson, despite a brief ankle injury scare in March 2025, has flourished in the Rockets' rotation, while Ausar Thompson has continued to establish himself as one of the league's premier young defensive stoppers. The following profile and analysis dives deep into what makes the Thompson twins the most exciting pair of brothers in professional basketball today.

Amen and Ausar Thompson: Complete Biographical Profile

The Thompson twins’ path to the NBA was unique, bypassing the traditional college route to play in the newly formed professional league, Overtime Elite (OTE), a decision that has proven transformative for their careers and the league itself. Here is a detailed look at their background and professional milestones:

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• Full Names: Amen XLNC Thompson (Older Twin) and Ausar XLNC Thompson (Younger Twin)
• Date of Birth: January 30, 2003
• Place of Birth: San Leandro, California
• Parents: Maya Wilson and Troy Thompson
• Sibling: Older brother, Troy Thompson Jr., who also played college basketball.
• Pre-NBA Team: City Reapers (Overtime Elite - OTE)
• NBA Draft (2023):
  • Amen Thompson: 4th Overall Pick by the Houston Rockets.
  • Ausar Thompson: 5th Overall Pick by the Detroit Pistons.
• Height: 6 feet 7 inches (201 cm)
• Weight: Approximately 215 lbs (98 kg)
• Current Teams (2025-2026 Season): Amen (Houston Rockets), Ausar (Detroit Pistons)
• International Interest: Both twins have expressed openness to playing for the Jamaica national basketball team.

The 2025-26 Season Showdown: A Statistical Comparison

The 2025-2026 NBA season has provided the clearest evidence yet of the twins' diverging, yet equally impactful, roles on their respective teams. While both are elite athletes with exceptional court vision and defensive instincts, their offensive development has started to define their individual ceilings. The comparison below highlights their focus areas in the current campaign.

Amen Thompson: The All-Around Playmaker

Amen Thompson's 2025-2026 campaign with the Houston Rockets, under coach Ime Udoka, has seen him embrace a primary ball-handling and playmaking role. His elite speed and verticality make him a terror in transition, where he is arguably one of the league's most effective transition scorers. His development has been marked by a significant increase in assists and improved decision-making.

• Latest Performance Snapshot: In a key stretch of games leading up to his March 2025 ankle injury, Amen was consistently stuffing the stat sheet, including a performance where he was just one rebound shy of a triple-double.
• Key Statistical Focus (2025-26): Amen's focus has been on points (PTS) and assists (AST). His rebounding (REB) numbers remain high for a guard, often averaging over 7.0 rebounds per game, a testament to his length and athleticism.
• The Shot Development: While his three-point percentage (3P%) remains a work in progress, his free-throw percentage (FT%) has shown encouraging signs of improvement, indicating a better foundation for his overall shooting mechanics.

Ausar Thompson: The Defensive Anchor

Ausar Thompson's value to the Detroit Pistons has been immediate and undeniable, primarily on the defensive end. In the 2025-2026 season, he is consistently being tasked with guarding the opposition's best player, establishing himself as a defensive anchor and one of the NBA's most versatile wing defenders. His ability to generate steals (STL) and blocks (BLK) is elite.

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• Latest Performance Snapshot: Ausar’s highlights from December 2025 games showcase his relentless motor, often leading to spectacular chase-down blocks and timely offensive rebounds.
• Key Statistical Focus (2025-26): Ausar leads the twin comparison in defensive metrics. His blocks per game and defensive win shares are among the league leaders for players at his position. His offensive game is more reliant on cutting, offensive rebounding, and scoring near the basket.
• The Playmaking Difference: While Amen is the primary initiator, Ausar still demonstrates excellent court vision, often registering solid assist totals, though his primary offensive intention is not initiating the play.

The Distinct Playing Styles: Aggression vs. Calculation

Despite their identical appearance and similar physical tools, the two brothers have developed distinct on-court personalities and skill sets. This difference is what makes their simultaneous rise so fascinating and why both were taken in the top five of the 2023 NBA Draft.

Amen: The Twitchy, Aggressive Attacker

Amen Thompson is often described as the more "twitchy" and aggressive of the two. His game is built on sudden bursts of speed and a relentless attack mentality. He excels at getting downhill, collapsing the defense, and then either finishing with an acrobatic layup or kicking out to an open shooter. His athletic gifts are maximized in the open court, making him a highlight-reel transition player.

Ausar: The Measured, Defensive Specialist

Ausar Thompson is the more measured and calculated player. His strength lies in his defensive prowess and basketball IQ. He is a phenomenal positional defender, using his long wingspan to disrupt passing lanes and contest shots without fouling. On offense, Ausar’s game is more grounded in efficiency, focusing on strong cuts, utilizing the offensive glass, and making the correct pass. His defensive versatility is what sets him apart from many of his peers.

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The Overtime Elite (OTE) Legacy and Development

Their decision to join the Overtime Elite (OTE) league for two seasons, playing for the City Reapers, was a groundbreaking move that reshaped the draft landscape. This path allowed the twins to hone their skills in a professional environment against high-level competition, while also receiving compensation and focusing on skill development over the traditional collegiate model.

The OTE experience provided a unique platform for the twins to develop their professional habits, manage media attention, and focus on the technical aspects of the game, such as their jump shots and defensive footwork, without the constraints of the NCAA. Their success has validated the OTE model and paved the way for future elite prospects considering alternative development paths.

What’s Next: The Ceiling for the Thompson Twins

As the 2025-2026 season progresses, the biggest question surrounding both players remains the development of their outside shooting. Their elite athleticism, defensive versatility, and playmaking ability already provide an incredibly high floor for their careers. However, a consistent three-point shot would unlock their full potential and elevate them from high-level starters to genuine NBA superstars.

For Amen, a more consistent jumper would make him an unstoppable pick-and-roll threat, forcing defenders to respect his shot and opening up his passing lanes. For Ausar, a reliable outside shot would prevent defenders from sagging off him, creating more space for the Pistons' offense to operate. Regardless of their shooting development, the Thompson twins have already etched their names in NBA history as the first pair of brothers to be drafted in the top five of the same draft, and their ongoing success in the 2025-2026 season ensures they will be must-watch television for years to come.