Thompson Twins Make NBA History as Playoff Cornerstones and Sibling Rivals

The Thompson Twins: NBA's Newest Phenoms Hit the Playoffs

The NBA loves a good story, but nothing quite matches what Amen Thompson and Ausar Thompson are doing right now. In a league with plenty of siblings, these two have taken things up a notch. Drafted back-to-back as the fourth and fifth overall picks in 2023, Amen landed with the Rockets and Ausar with the Pistons. Now, just a year later, they've both dragged their teams into the playoffs—something nobody saw coming at this pace.

The whole twin storyline gets even richer when you look at their ages—just 22. They're not only the first set of twins picked in the top five, they’re also making their playoff debuts, cementing a moment their family (and the league) won't forget. Amen, with the Rockets, is facing Steph Curry and the Warriors in the first round. Ausar, meanwhile, finally helped snap an almost cartoonish losing streak for the Pistons: 15 straight playoff losses, the worst in NBA history. Beating the Knicks broke the drought and made fans in Detroit believe again.

This sudden eruption of NBA stardom isn’t just about freakish athleticism or length. The twins grew up pushing each other to be better—no surprise there—but credit a lot of their obsessiveness to their older brother, Troy. Amen calls Troy the ultimate 'no-excuses' guy, the one who hammered in the idea that there’s always more work to be done. Ausar sums Troy up as 'the prototype.' It’s become obvious every time they hit the court: they're relentless, both physically and mentally.

Brotherhood, Rivalry, and Raising the Bar in the NBA

Ausar, outside of the box scores, plays a sort of glue-guy role for Detroit that rarely grabs headlines but always moves the needle. Pistons coach Dwane Casey can’t stop talking about Ausar’s dogged defense and all-around game—a player who doesn't demand shots but always makes big plays. In Detroit’s win over the Knicks, it was Ausar’s lockdown defense and upside as a glue guy that kept the energy alive and helped end the years of playoff misery.

On the other side, Amen is stirring up things in Houston. The Rockets haven’t had a clear direction in years, but Amen’s flexibility has made them dangerous for veteran teams. He’s not just a scorer—his vision and ability to move the ball open up the floor for teammates who’d previously been stuck playing hero ball. Even with the Rockets trailing 0-1 in their series, nobody’s counting them out, not with Amen pushing the pace and looking like a star in the making.

Of course, the competitive streak that fueled their backyard battles as kids hasn’t gone anywhere. Ausar loves to remind Amen about Detroit’s recent playoff success (however small) and cracks jokes about one-upping him next year. Amen, meanwhile, had no problem roasting Ausar and the Pistons last season, calling them 'cellar-dwellers' before the tables turned. But beneath the teasing, their support for one another is rock solid—a unique blend of rivalry and brotherhood that keeps both of them sharp.

• Amen Thompson: Rockets’ offensive engine, top-tier versatility
• Ausar Thompson: Pistons’ defensive anchor, big-play specialist
• First twins picked in the top five of an NBA draft
• Both making their playoff debuts in their second season
• Older brother Troy’s 'no-excuses' mindset is the family’s secret sauce

The NBA’s seen a lot of siblings, but the rise of Amen and Ausar shows what happens when family, fire, and talent collide at just the right moment. Teams, fans, and maybe even Troy himself are wondering just how far this brotherly push can go—and when the rest of the league will catch up.