Amen Thompson Bio
Amen Thompson is an American professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Born on January 30, 2003, in Oakland, California, he plays as a shooting guard and point guard and is widely regarded as one of the most athletic young talents in the league. He was selected fourth overall in the 2023 NBA draft and has since earned recognition as one of the top perimeter defenders in the NBA, highlighted by his selection to the NBA All-Defensive First Team.
Thompson is the identical twin brother of Ausar Thompson, and the pair made league history in 2023 as the first brothers to be selected in the top five of the same NBA draft. Beyond the NBA, he gained attention during his time with Overtime Elite, where he helped lead his team to a league title. Known for his explosive athleticism, defensive versatility, and growing offensive game, he has quickly become a central figure in the Rockets’ young core.
Early Life and Background
Amen Thompson was born on January 30, 2003, in Oakland, California, to parents Maya Wilson and Troy Thompson. He was raised in San Leandro, California, and is of Jamaican descent through his father. Thompson shares a close bond with his identical twin brother, Ausar, who was born one minute after him. The twins share the middle name XLNC, pronounced “excellence,” a fitting reflection of the high standards set by their family.
The Thompson household had deep athletic roots. His older brother, Troy Jr., played college basketball at Prairie View A&M, and his uncle, Mark Thompson, represented Jamaica in the 400-meter hurdles at the 1992 Summer Olympics. The twins began training for basketball under the guidance of their father by the age of seven, drawing inspiration from NBA star LeBron James. To allow more time for basketball development, Amen and Ausar were homeschooled during sixth and seventh grades.
Path to Professional Basketball
Entering eighth grade, Thompson and his family moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, so that he and Ausar could play high school basketball one year early at Pine Crest School. The twins immediately cracked the starting lineup. As a sophomore at Pine Crest, Amen averaged 16.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game, earning All-County honorable mention. He was later named to the Broward County Fab Five by the Sun-Sentinel before his junior season.
During his junior year, Thompson elevated his game, averaging 20.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game. He led Pine Crest to the Class 4A state championship with a 90-83 double-overtime victory over Santa Fe High School, scoring 43 points in the title game and helping the team overcome an eight-point deficit with 45 seconds left in overtime. Rated a five-star recruit by ESPN and a four-star recruit by Rivals, Thompson held offers from programs including Alabama, Arizona, Auburn, Arizona State, and Kansas. He ultimately chose to forgo college basketball.
Amen Thompson Career
Overtime Elite (2021-2023)
On May 25, 2021, Thompson signed a two-year contract with Overtime Elite (OTE), a professional league based in Atlanta for players aged 16 to 20. He joined alongside his brother Ausar, bypassing his final year of high school and college eligibility. In the 2021-22 season, he played for Team OTE and averaged 14 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.1 steals per game, helping his team reach the OTE Finals, where they finished as runners-up.
In the 2022-23 OTE season, Thompson played for the City Reapers after Ausar selected him with the first pick in the league’s draft. He averaged 16.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 2.3 steals per game in the regular season and was named to the All-OTE First Team. In Game 2 of the OTE Finals, he made a game-winning layup at the buzzer in an 80-78 win over the YNG Dreamerz, helping the Reapers complete a 3-0 sweep for the league championship.
Houston Rockets Era (2023-Present)
The Houston Rockets selected Amen Thompson with the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft, one pick ahead of his twin brother Ausar, marking the first time brothers had been taken in the top five of the same draft. Thompson made his NBA debut on October 25, 2023, scoring eight points with five rebounds and two assists in a loss to the Orlando Magic. After missing time with a Grade 2 ankle sprain and a brief stint in the G-League with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, he returned to action and recorded his first triple-double in his final rookie game, posting 18 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists against the Los Angeles Clippers. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2024.
Thompson continued his rapid development in his second NBA season, taking on a larger role with the starting lineup. On January 5, 2025, he posted 23 points and a career-high 16 rebounds in a 119-115 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Later that month, on January 27, he scored a career-high 33 points and hit the game-winning shot in a 114-112 victory over the Boston Celtics. His defensive impact was recognized when he was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team in 2025, becoming the fifth Rockets player to earn the honor.
Driving Style and Strengths
Thompson is widely praised for his elite athleticism, defensive instincts, and ability to guard multiple positions on the perimeter. His combination of length, quickness, and basketball IQ makes him a disruptive presence in passing lanes, while his improving court vision allows him to contribute as a playmaker in transition. Offensively, he is steadily expanding his perimeter shot and continues to develop his pick-and-roll game alongside his teammates in Houston’s young core.
Notable Events and Milestones
Thompson’s 43-point performance in Pine Crest’s 2022 state championship win stands as one of the defining high school moments of his career. In the NBA, his first triple-double and his 33-point game-winning effort against the Boston Celtics have quickly become signature performances. He also made headlines following a confrontation with Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro in December 2024, which resulted in a two-game suspension but underscored his competitive fire.
Amen Thompson Career Highlights
Across his professional career, Thompson has compiled a growing list of accomplishments, beginning with an OTE league championship in 2023 and All-OTE First Team honors. He was selected to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2024, and in 2025 he earned a spot on the NBA All-Defensive First Team, an achievement that highlights his defensive value to the Houston Rockets.
Overtime Elite Highlights
Thompson’s two seasons in Overtime Elite showcased his all-around game. After a strong 2021-22 campaign with Team OTE, he elevated his play in 2022-23 with the City Reapers, averaging 16.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 2.3 steals per game. His buzzer-beating layup in the OTE Finals remains a signature moment, and he capped his OTE career as a league champion and All-OTE First Team selection.
Other Performances
Thompson also gained summer experience in 2022 when he played for OTE affiliate Team Overtime in The Basketball Tournament, where his team fell in the first round to Omaha Blue Crew. He has also been assigned for development purposes to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Houston’s G-League affiliate, providing him additional minutes and experience early in his professional career.
Amen Thompson Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Thompson was born to Maya Wilson and Troy Thompson and raised alongside his identical twin brother, Ausar, who is also an NBA player. His older brother, Troy Jr., played college basketball at Prairie View A&M, and his uncle, Mark Thompson, represented Jamaica in the 400-meter hurdles at the 1992 Summer Olympics. The family’s deep athletic heritage helped shape the twins’ early dedication to the sport.
Personal Life
Thompson shares a particularly close bond with his twin brother Ausar, with the pair having trained, competed, and reached the NBA together. The twins share the middle name XLNC, which stands for “excellence,” a reflection of the values instilled by their parents. Thompson continues to focus on his basketball career with the Houston Rockets.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Amen Thompson’s continued emergence as a key contributor for the Houston Rockets. Stepping into a larger role with the starting unit, he delivered a series of career-best performances, including a 23-point, 16-rebound effort against the Los Angeles Lakers and a 33-point game-winning performance against the Boston Celtics in late January. His impact on both ends of the floor earned him selection to the NBA All-Defensive First Team, cementing his status among the league’s elite young defenders.
Thompson’s growth as a playmaker was also on display, highlighted by a career-high 14-assist performance against the Memphis Grizzlies in January 2026, along with eight points, eight rebounds, and a steal in the win. He continued to demonstrate scoring versatility, posting a career-high 41 points on 17-of-22 shooting against the Minnesota Timberwolves in April. These performances reflected his expanding offensive game and growing comfort within Houston’s rotation.
As the Rockets continue to develop their young core, Thompson remains a foundational piece of the franchise’s long-term plans. With his defensive excellence, improving offensive repertoire, and relentless work ethic, he is positioned to remain a central figure in Houston’s pursuit of a return to championship contention. His continued development will be a key storyline for the Rockets in the seasons ahead.
