Ausar Thompson Bio
Ausar XLNC Thompson is an American professional basketball player for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Born on January 30, 2003, in Oakland, California, he attended Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he showcased his skills as a five-star recruit. Ausar bypassed his senior year to join the Overtime Elite (OTE) league, winning two championships and earning multiple MVP awards. Drafted fifth overall by the Detroit Pistons in 2023, Thompson made history by becoming part of the first pair of brothers to be selected in the top five of the same NBA draft.
Early Life and Background
Ausar Thompson was born to Maya Wilson and Troy Thompson and raised in San Leandro, California. He is of Jamaican descent through his father. Ausar has an identical twin brother, Amen Thompson, who was born one minute before him; they share the middle name “XLNC” (pronounced “excellence”). Their older brother, Troy Jr., played college basketball for Prairie View A&M, and their uncle, Mark Thompson, represented Jamaica in the 400-meter hurdles at the 1992 Summer Olympics. Ausar and Amen began training for basketball under their father’s guidance by age seven, drawing inspiration from basketball legend LeBron James. To focus on basketball, the twins were homeschooled during their sixth and seventh grades.
Path to Basketball
In pursuit of their basketball dreams, Ausar and his family moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, before entering eighth grade, allowing them to play high school basketball one year early at Pine Crest School. The twins immediately became starters on their team. As a sophomore, Ausar averaged 17.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game, earning second-team All-County honors. He was named to the Broward County Fab Five by the Sun Sentinel entering his junior season, where he averaged 22.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game, helping his team win the Class 4A state championship. He shared the Broward County Class 5A-1A co-player of the year award with Amen.
Ausar Thompson Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
Ausar Thompson signed a two-year contract with Overtime Elite (OTE) on May 25, 2021, joining the league with his brother Amen. In the 2021–22 season, he played for Team Elite, one of the three teams in the league, averaging 14.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.2 blocks per game. He led his team to the league championship and was named Finals MVP after recording 20 points and 11 rebounds in the decisive game against Team OTE.
Breakthrough (2022–2023)
In the 2022–23 OTE season, Ausar was named captain of the City Reapers, where he played alongside Amen. He earned league Player of the Week honors twice during the season and was named OTE MVP, making the All-OTE First Team with averages of 16.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 2.4 steals per game. Ausar led the Reapers to the league title, repeating as Finals MVP, and made a game-winning three-pointer in the final game.
Notable Works and Milestones
Ausar Thompson’s signature achievements include being a two-time OTE Champion, two-time OTE Finals MVP, and the OTE Most Valuable Player in 2023.
Ausar Thompson Award Nominations
Throughout his career, Ausar Thompson has received numerous accolades, including multiple MVP awards in the Overtime Elite league.
Ausar Thompson Awards Won
Ausar Thompson has won several prestigious awards, including the OTE Champion and OTE Finals MVP in both 2022 and 2023, as well as being named the OTE Most Valuable Player in 2023.
Ausar Thompson Family
Ausar Thompson is the son of Maya Wilson and Troy Thompson. He has two brothers, Amen and Troy Jr.
Personal Life
Ausar Thompson is known for his close relationship with his twin brother, Amen, who is also a professional basketball player. The two have shared their basketball journey together, from their early training to their professional careers in the NBA.
