Ayrton Oneill
The Thompson twins, Amen and Ausar, are both professional basketball players. They were born on January 30, 2003, and are currently 20 years old. The brothers share a middle name, XLNC (pronounced excellence), and are both 6 feet 7 inches tall. They were selected back-to-back in the 2023 NBA draft, with Amen joining the Houston Rockets and Ausar joining the Detroit Pistons. They are the first brothers in NBA draft history to be selected in the top 5 in the same year.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Names of the Thompson twins | Amen and Ausar |
| Date of birth | January 30, 2003 |
| Height | 6 foot 7 inches |
| Teams | Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons |
| High school | Pine Crest School, Fort Lauderdale, Florida |
| College | Did not play college basketball |
| Draft year | 2023 |
| Draft pick | 4th and 5th |
| Parents | Maya Wilson and Troy Thompson |
| Uncle | Mark Thompson |
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What You'll Learn
Amen and Ausar Thompson were born on 30 January 2003
Amen and Ausar Thompson, the famous basketball-playing twins, were born on 30 January 2003. The brothers were born in San Leandro, California, and are of Jamaican descent through their father, Troy Thompson. Their mother's name is Maya Wilson. Amen was born one minute before his identical twin brother, Ausar. They share the middle name "XLNC" (pronounced "excellence").
The Thompson twins began training for basketball at the age of seven under the guidance of their father. They drew inspiration from LeBron James and created a vision board with the central goal of becoming "the greatest NBA player of all time". They were homeschooled in sixth and seventh grades to focus on basketball. Ahead of eighth grade, the family moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, so that the twins could play high school basketball one year early at Pine Crest School. They were both rated five-star recruits by ESPN after graduating.
Amen and Ausar Thompson made history in the 2023 NBA draft when they were selected in back-to-back picks, becoming the first brothers to be picked in the top 5 in the same year. Amen, who is one minute older than Ausar, was selected fourth overall by the Houston Rockets, while Ausar was picked fifth overall by the Detroit Pistons. They were 20 years old at the time of the draft.
The Thompson twins are incredibly close and had never spent more than two days apart before joining their respective NBA teams. They talk every day and are each other's biggest fans. They played on different teams during their first year at OTE but were still very much a duo.
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They were picked fourth and fifth in the 2023 NBA Draft
The Thompson twins, Amen and Ausar, were selected fourth and fifth overall in the 2023 NBA draft, making history as the first brothers to be picked in the top 5 in the same year. Amen, who was born just one minute before his identical twin brother Ausar, was selected by the Houston Rockets as the fourth overall pick. Ausar was then selected by the Detroit Pistons with the fifth overall pick.
The twins, born on January 30, 2003, in San Leandro, California, began training for basketball under the guidance of their father at age seven and drew inspiration from LeBron James. They moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in eighth grade so that they could play high school basketball one year early at Pine Crest School, where they immediately started for the team. Both brothers were rated as five-star recruits by ESPN and won a state title. They bypassed their senior year of high school to sign with the development league Overtime Elite (OTE), where they played for two seasons.
In the 2021-22 season, Amen and Ausar played for different OTE teams, but reunited the following season as teammates on the City Reapers, leading the team to an OTE championship. Ausar was named the regular-season and Finals MVP for the second consecutive season. He was also selected as the league MVP in 2023. The Thompson twins made their highly anticipated NBA debuts on October 25, 2023, creating a historic moment for brothers in the league.
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They trained for basketball from the age of seven
Amen and Ausar Thompson, born on January 30, 2003, are American professional basketball players who began training for the sport at the age of seven under the guidance of their father. The twins drew inspiration from LeBron James and shared a dream of becoming "the greatest NBA player of all time," as written on their vision board.
Amen and Ausar Thompson's journey in basketball started early, with their dedication and hard work shaping their future success. By the age of seven, they had already begun training for the sport, showcasing their ambition and determination. Under the guidance of their father, they developed their skills and honed their talents, inspired by the legendary LeBron James.
The Thompson twins took their training seriously, and it became an integral part of their lives. They crafted an ambitious fitness and training routine, which included running 2 miles while dribbling left-handed, completing 200 push-ups, 200 sit-ups, 50 pull-ups, 500 calf raises, and squats while watching TV. Their routine also extended beyond physical exercises, as they included reading and writing in their list of goals, recognizing the importance of a well-rounded education.
As they progressed in their basketball journey, the Thompson twins made a significant move to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, during their eighth grade. This relocation allowed them to play high school basketball one year early at Pine Crest School, where they immediately started for the team. Their talent and hard work paid off, as they were both rated five-star recruits after graduating. The twins' exceptional skills and dedication to the sport led them to bypass their senior year of high school and sign with the development league Overtime Elite (OTE), where they continued to excel and make a name for themselves in the basketball world.
The Thompson twins' early start in basketball training at the age of seven laid the foundation for their successful careers. Their dedication, hard work, and ambition drove them to pursue their dreams, and they continue to inspire others with their remarkable journey in the world of basketball.
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They were homeschooled in sixth and seventh grade
The Thompson twins, Amen and Ausar, were homeschooled in sixth and seventh grade to focus on basketball. They began training for basketball under the guidance of their father at age seven and drew inspiration from LeBron James. The twins created a vision board when they were nine years old, with one of their central goals being to "become the greatest NBA player of all time." Amen and Ausar also crafted an ambitious fitness and training routine as kids, which included running 2 miles dribbling left-handed, completing 200 push-ups, 200 sit-ups, 50 pull-ups, 500 calf raises, and squatting while watching TV. They aimed to make 200 or more shots each day and included goals related to reading and writing.
The decision to homeschool the twins during their sixth and seventh-grade years allowed them to dedicate more time to their basketball training and development. It is unclear if they were homeschooled for any other grades or if they returned to a traditional school setting after seventh grade. However, it is known that the twins and their family moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, before their eighth grade so that they could play high school basketball one year early at Pine Crest School.
At Pine Crest School, Amen and Ausar immediately started playing for the basketball team. As a sophomore, Amen averaged 16.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game, earning All-County honorable mention. Ausar also excelled, averaging 17.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game, earning second-team All-County honors. Both twins were named to the Broward County Fab Five by the Sun-Sentinel entering their junior seasons.
The Thompson twins' hard work and dedication to their craft paid off, as they were both rated five-star recruits by ESPN upon graduating from Pine Crest School. They bypassed their senior year of high school to sign with Overtime Elite (OTE), a professional league based in Atlanta for players between the ages of 16 and 20. They played for different teams during their first year with OTE but remained a dynamic duo. In the 2021-22 season, Amen played for Team OTE, while Ausar played for Team Elite, and both brothers averaged impressive statistics across points, rebounds, assists, and blocks.
In the 2022-23 OTE season, the twins played together on the City Reapers, with Ausar serving as team captain. They continued to excel and make history, becoming the first brothers in NBA draft history to be selected in the top 5 in the same year. Amen was selected fourth overall by the Houston Rockets, while Ausar was chosen fifth overall by the Detroit Pistons. Despite being separated by distance as they embarked on their NBA journeys, the twins remain each other's biggest fans and talk every day.
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They played high school basketball at Pine Crest School in Florida
The Thompson twins, Amen and Ausar, played high school basketball at Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The twins moved to Florida with their family so that they could play high school basketball a year early at Pine Crest School.
Amen and Ausar were both rated five-star recruits by ESPN after graduating from Pine Crest School. They were also ranked in the top 50 of the 247Sports.com composite rankings for the Class of 2022.
Amen and Ausar made an immediate impact on the Pine Crest School basketball team, starting for the team in the eighth grade. As a sophomore, Amen averaged 16.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game, earning All-County honourable mention. As a junior, he averaged 20.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game, leading his team to the Class 4A state championship.
Ausar also had impressive statistics as a sophomore, averaging 17.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game, earning second-team All-County honours. He continued to excel as a junior, averaging 22.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game, and helping Pine Crest win the Class 4A state championship.
The Thompson twins' exceptional skills and teamwork were evident in their high school basketball games. In a Class 4A semifinal against Titusville Astronaut, the twins combined for 45 points, showcasing their powerful connection on the court. Their impressive performance propelled Pine Crest into the state championship game for the first time since 2012.
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Frequently asked questions
The Thompson twins were born on January 30, 2003, and are currently 20 years old.
Amen was drafted by the Houston Rockets, while Ausar was drafted by the Detroit Pistons.
Amen is more of a primary ball handler, while Ausar is more of a point forward.
The Thompson twins attended Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The middle name of both Amen and Ausar is "XLNC" (pronounced "excellence").
