Drafted One Spot Ahead Of Ausar, Amen Thompson Ecstatic To Join Rockets
HOUSTON — Amen and Ausar Thompson had a bet on which brother would go first in the 2023 NBA Draft. And thanks to the Houston Rockets holding the No. 4 pick, Amen won.
Amen was the frontrunner to land with the Rockets since Houston received the No. 4 pick during the NBA Draft Lottery in May. His selection may not have been a surprise. But the 20-year-old prospect from Overtime Elite is thrilled to be joining the Rockets.
"It feels great to be a Houston Rocket," Amen said. "I thought I had a great interview, great workout with them. I thought I saw family over there, and I thought I saw a future in Houston. So it's great to be there."
Amen admitted he did not know much about the Rockets before the draft, but he already had an idea about his fit. For a team that features Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr., Amen described his new teammates as athletic guards who can push the tempo while creating plays for everyone on the court.
His game is similar to Green and Porter. But Amen said he "likes to be a part of a team with multiple ball-handlers and facilitators." Amen is a great shot-maker and playmaker who averaged 16.4 points and 5.9 assists for the City Reapers during the 2022-23 season.
He received All-OTE First Team honors while leading the City Reapers to a championship title in April.
"I think Houston got a lot of players that have great potential, and I think they have a scary future," Amen said. "I'm just excited to play with the Rockets, play with my new team."
The Rockets' decision to make Amen the first prospect taken from Overtime Elite was delightful. But watching his brother Ausar taken one spot below by the Detroit Pistons at pick No. 5 made Amen's draft night experience more memorable.
"Me and Ausar, we were going to be happy whoever went first," Amen said. "For us to go back to back, be the first twins in the same draft to go top five — it means a lot."
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