How twins Amen, Ausar Thompson defy basketball logic

When you think of the typical wing in the modern NBA, you likely think of one who can shoot. In a league so focused on shooting as many threes as possible, slashing forwards are seemingly going extinct. That is, except for the Thompson twins, Amen and Ausar. 

They have defied basketball logic every step of the way in their NBA journeys and have played pivotal roles for their individual teams in a year when they may both make the playoffs. 

The Thompsons had one of the most unusual journeys to the NBA ever seen. They were the first players from the Overtime Elite (OTE) league to be drafted into the NBA, with Amen taken by the Rockets at No. 4 overall in the 2023 draft and Ausar selected next by the Pistons with the No. 5 overall pick.

Both were seen as absurdly athletic prospects with great potential defensively while being very raw on offense. 

A season-and-a-half into their careers, the Thompson twins have looked incredible. Their offense is still raw, but they have both been elite defensive players for their respective teams and have already become experts at making the right play. 

Despite both being just 21, they are already some of the smartest defenders in the NBA, a big part of the value they bring to their teams. For the Rockets, Amen is averaging 12.6 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game while shooting 55.7% from the field. Meanwhile, Ausar is averaging 7.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists while shooting 51.3% from the field for the Pistons.

Amen has been arguably the biggest part of the Rockets' explosion this season which has them currently holding the second seed in the Western Conference. Despite having very limited shooting abilities, Amen is a highly efficient scorer, and the same goes for Ausar. 

Typically, you'd think that a player who can't shoot is easy to guard, as you can drop below the three-point line in order to pick up on their drives better. However, this can't really be done with either of them. Ausar is one of the better off-ball wings in the NBA, and Amen has a deadly floater-range game that makes it insanely difficult for defenders to slow him down. 

Even when purely attacking the rim, despite most defenses knowing this is their primary area of scoring, they are elite, both shooting 68% or better from less than 5 feet this season. Their combination of athleticism, acrobatic finishes and strength help push them forward as scorers. 

Combining this with their incredible knack for making the right plays produces two incredibly valuable players for playoff teams despite their youth. In a league so dedicated to shooting threes, it really is incredible to see two non-shooters stand out amongst the rest by doing just about everything else at a high level. 

Both Amen and Ausar have become fan favorites for their respective teams, and it's hard not to root for them. They have defied the odds at all levels and will likely continue to blossom into stars in a modern NBA that has not been kind to their archetypes.