NBA Draft: Is Ausar Thompson Actually the Better of Dynamic Twin Duo?
While the majority of NBA Draft analysts have consistently had Ausar Thompson ranked lower than twin brother, Amen, that idea is starting to be drawn into question with each passing game.
Amen is widely considered to be the No. 3 prospect in this class but does Ausar actually have an argument to be in that conversation as well? Let’s first take a look at the raw numbers between the 19-year-old twin brothers.
(ALL STATS via Overtime Elite)
| Amen Thompson | Ausar Thompson | |
|---|---|---|
Points per Game | 16.7 | 17.2 |
Rebounds per Game | 5.6 | 7.8 |
Assists per Game | 5.9 | 5.2 |
Steals per Game | 2.0 | 2.8 |
Blocks per Game | 0.7 | 1.4 |
Turnovers per Game | 3.2 | 2.9 |
2-point % | 67% | 60% |
3-point % | 21% on 2.7 Attempts | 33% on 3.7 Attempts |
Free Throw % | 82% on 3.7 Attempts | 64% on 4.9 Attempts |
As you can see, the basic box score numbers show that Ausar is putting up the same, or better, numbers across the board than Amen. So, how does he stack up when we dive into the film and look at things a little deeper?
Offense
If there is one area that Ausar is widely considered to be better than his twin brother it is in terms of shooting the basketball. The 3-point percentage and volume back that up and so do the mechanics.
While Ausar still has plenty of room for growth, highlighted by the lower than you would expect free throw percentage, his shooting form is simply more trustworthy right now.
It is also encouraging to see him at least willing to take open shooting opportunities on catch and shoot, step behind ball screens and pull up mid range playtypes. Amen on the other hand leaves too many of these opportunities without an attempt at all.
It would still be nice to see Ausar get more involved off the ball with running off screens, cutting, and offensive rebounds but he is definitely more apt to do those things.
Looking at areas offensively where Ausar is behind Amen. Ausar definitely has plus passing for his projected archetype and this probably goes overlooked at times due to Amen's elite level passing and playmaking.
Amen also seems to have a more creative, and tighter, handle that allows him to get to the rim and break down the defense in a half court setting.
Both Ausar and Amen have room to grow with their finishing around the rim. The 2-point percentages are definitely good but that is because of the sheer amount of easy looks they get in transition. With that said, Ausar has shown more and more willingness to use his body and play through contact at the rim.
Defense
While there is a significant difference in the passing and playmaking offensively, in favor of Amen, there is also one on the defensive end in favor of Ausar.
Much like the halfcourt 2-point finishing, there is plenty of room for growth with both brothers but Ausar is more often engaged on this end of the court, especially on the ball.
Not only is Ausar more consistent with his defensive presence but even when comparing the impact when both are engaged, Ausar still comes out on top.
You have to love his willingness to pick the ball up full court and he shows all of the same disruptive abilities as Amen in terms of jumping passing lanes, activity in the gap and weak side rim protection potential.
When just looking at Ausar’s room for growth we must start with the consistency and especially off the ball where he can get caught watching the ball and leaking out instead of getting involved on the defensive boards.
We all knew that there were plenty of prospects ready to take over that No. 3 spot on 2023 NBA Draft big boards if Amen opened the door but they were previously reserved for names like Cam Whimore, Nick Smith Jr. and other NCAA freshmen.
While those prospects are still very much in play, although the unfortunate injury around Smith Jr. has caused his stock to level off for now, if Amen is not taken with the No. 3 overall pick it might actually be his very own twin brother, Ausar, that is the reason why.
Want to join the discussion? Like Draft Digest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest NBA Draft news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.