Victor Wembanyama may be the star attraction in the 2023 NBA Draft, but he’s certainly not the only one to look out for.
This season, Amen and Ausar Thompson (twin brothers who play for the Overtime City Reapers) have emerged as highly valued prospects and all the latest mock drafts have them getting picked up pretty early on.
The only problem is their choice to play in the OTE league, which has called into question their level of competition. Without going up against other top prospects, nobody is really sure how they’ll stack up in the professional scene.
But in a recent chat with Jacob Polacheck, the brothers silenced the haters and sent a message to the doubters that displayed their fire and passion first-hand.
With the NBA Draft just five months away, superstar twin guards Amen and Ausar Thompson aren’t shying away from the competition or the work. And it’s starting to pay dividends.
“When the time comes and I get to actually play against players in my draft, I’m going to be ready,” Amen said. “I’ve been waiting to do that for a long time.”
Step into the Overtime Elite gym and against the wall outside the locker room sits a poster tracking the number of shots each player in the program has attempted from January 1-9. Two names sit atop that list.
And while they have sacrificed their chances of ever playing in front of the bright lights of college basketball, it’s a decision neither of them regrets.
“You just have to run your race,” Ausar said. “Everybody is going to have an opinion. They’re not living it. Half the time, they’re not even looking deep enough into it.”
The Thompsons are leading the OTE in shot attempts this month, and they don’t seem to have any regrets about their decision to avoid college basketball.
So far this season, Amen is averaging 16.2 points, 6 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game while his brother is putting up 16.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.5 steals per game.
Where Will The Thompson Brothers Get Drafted?
The upcoming draft is notoriously deep, with players like Wembanyama, Scoot Henderson, and Nick Smith headlining the class. In our mock draft, both Amen and Ausar ranked in our top 10, with the former coming in as high as 4th overall.
Amen is one of the Thompson twins who are both expected to go in the top 10, and both are currently playing for Overtime Elite in their second seasons. At 6’7”, Amen Thompson is a giant guard who frequently causes mismatches on the wing. A seemingly perfect player in the modern NBA, his breakaway speed and tremendous hops make him a threat in transition.
He can also score easily near the rim while moving quickly with the ball in his hands, ready to put any defender standing in his way on a poster. At this time, the only thing separating him from his brother is his ability as a playmaker, although that could come in time because his athleticism and seemingly high basketball IQ look off the charts right now.
Needless to say, there are a lot of reasons to be optimistic about the Thompson brothers and their future in the league. The NBA is no stranger to brothers being in the league together, but never before have a pair of siblings managed to blossom into stars at the same time.
These guys could very well break the NBA, and they have all the confidence in the world that they’ll succeed at the highest level.
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