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 played his high school basketball at Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he gained recognition as a five-star recruit. After bypassing his senior year to join Overtime Elite, Thompson impressed by helping his team win a league title and earning All-OTE First Team honors in 2023. He was selected fourth overall in the 2023 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets, becoming one of the first brothers in NBA draft history to be selected in the top five alongside his identical twin brother, Ausar Thompson.
Early Life and Background
Thompson was born to Maya Wilson and Troy Thompson on January 30, 2003, and raised in San Leandro, California. He is of Jamaican descent through his father. His identical twin brother, Ausar, was born one minute after him, and the brothers share the middle name “XLNC” (pronounced “excellence”). Their family includes an older brother, Troy Jr., who played college basketball for Prairie View A&M, and an uncle, Mark Thompson, who represented Jamaica in the 400-meter hurdles at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
Thompson and Ausar began training for basketball under the guidance of their father by age seven and drew inspiration from watching LeBron James. The twins were homeschooled during sixth and seventh grades to allow them to focus on basketball development. Their early dedication to the sport laid the foundation for their future basketball careers.
Path to Basketball
Entering eighth grade, Thompson and his family relocated to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, so that he and Ausar could play high school basketball one year early at Pine Crest School. The twins immediately became starters for the team. As a sophomore at Pine Crest, Thompson averaged 16.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game, earning All-County honorable mention recognition.
During his junior season, Thompson averaged 20.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game while leading his team to the Class 4A state championship in a 90-83 double overtime win over Santa Fe High School. In the title game, Thompson scored 43 points and helped Pine Crest overcome an eight-point deficit with 45 seconds left in overtime. He shared Broward County Class 5A-1A co-player of the year honors with Ausar. Thompson was considered a five-star recruit by ESPN and held scholarship offers from Alabama, Arizona, Auburn, Arizona State, and Kansas before deciding to bypass college and join Overtime Elite.
Amen Thompson Career
Early Career (2021-2023)
On May 25, 2021, Thompson signed a two-year contract with Overtime Elite (OTE), a professional league based in Atlanta with players between ages 16 and 20. He joined the league with his brother Ausar, bypassing his final year of high school because he believed it would best prepare him for the NBA. In his first season with Team OTE, Thompson averaged 14 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.1 steals per game, helping his team achieve a runner-up finish in the league.
In the 2022-23 OTE season, Thompson played for the City Reapers alongside team captain Ausar, who selected him with the first pick in the league’s draft. He was named OTE Player of the Week on January 9, 2023, after recording 22 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, and five steals in a win over the Cold Hearts. During the regular season, Thompson averaged 16.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 2.3 steals per game, earning All-OTE First Team honors. He made a game-winning layup at the buzzer in Game 2 of the OTE Finals and helped the Reapers win the league championship in a 3-0 sweep.
Houston Rockets Era (2023-Present)
The Houston Rockets selected Thompson with the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, one pick ahead of his twin brother Ausar. They became the first brothers in NBA draft history to be selected in the top five in the same year. 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 games early in the season due to a Grade 2 ankle sprain, Thompson was sent to the G League’s Rio Grande Valley Vipers for development before being recalled. His minutes and numbers increased significantly when teammate Alperen Şengün missed the remainder of the season due to a knee injury. Thompson recorded his first career triple-double with 18 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists against the Los Angeles Clippers in his final game as a rookie. He was selected to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, becoming the fifth Rockets player to receive NBA all-rookie recognition in the past four seasons.
Notable Events and Milestones
On December 30, Thompson was involved in an altercation with Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro, grabbing him by the jersey and shoving him to the ground during an inbounds play. The incident occurred shortly after teammate Fred VanVleet was ejected for bumping a referee. Thompson received a two-game suspension for his actions. Later in the season, he took on an expanded role in January and February when Jabari Smith Jr. was injured.
Amen Thompson Career Highlights
Thompson has accumulated significant achievements across his professional career, earning recognition at both the OTE and NBA levels.
NBA Highlights
On January 5, 2025, Thompson recorded 23 points and a career-high 16 rebounds in a 119-115 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Less than a month later, on January 27, 2025, he scored a career-high 33 points and hit the game-winning shot in a 114-112 victory over the Boston Celtics. Thompson was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team in 2025, becoming the fifth Rockets player to receive the honor. On January 26, 2026, he recorded a career-high 14 assists along with eight points and eight rebounds in a win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
OTE and Pre-NBA Highlights
Thompson won the OTE championship in 2023 with the City Reapers and was named to the All-OTE First Team the same year. His runner-up finish with Team OTE in 2022 and his 43-point performance in the Florida state championship game highlighted his early dominance as a high school player.
Amen Thompson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Amen Thompson comes from an athletic family with strong basketball and track and field connections. His father, Troy Thompson, has served as a mentor and trainer for Amen and his brothers from an early age. His twin brother, Ausar Thompson, is also a professional basketball player who was drafted in the 2023 NBA Draft. The brothers have shared a basketball journey since childhood, consistently playing on the same teams throughout their development.
Their older brother, Troy Jr., played college basketball for Prairie View A&M. Their uncle, Mark Thompson, represented Jamaica in the 400-meter hurdles at the 1992 Summer Olympics, representing the family’s Olympic heritage. The Thompson family has deep roots in athletics, with Jamaican descent through their father’s side.
Personal Life
Amen and Ausar Thompson are identical twins who share the middle name “XLNC” (pronounced “excellence”). They grew up together in San Leandro, California, before moving to Fort Lauderdale for high school. The twins have been inseparable throughout their basketball careers, consistently playing on the same teams and making history together as the first brothers drafted in the top five of the same NBA Draft class. Amen currently plays for the Houston Rockets while Ausar plays for the Detroit Pistons.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024-25 season marked a breakout year for Thompson as he established himself as a key contributor for the Houston Rockets. After a solid rookie campaign that earned him All-Rookie Second Team honors, Thompson took on an expanded role during the season when injuries affected the roster. His versatility on both ends of the floor became increasingly valuable to the team’s success.
Thompson’s signature moment of the season came on January 27, 2025, when he scored a career-high 33 points and hit the game-winning shot against the Boston Celtics. His career-high 16-rebound game against the Los Angeles Lakers on January 5 showcased his ability to impact the game beyond scoring. These performances throughout the season demonstrated his growth as an all-around player and earned him recognition on the NBA All-Defensive First Team, making him one of only five Rockets players to receive the honor.
The experience gained from his rookie season and the increased responsibilities during his second year positioned Thompson as a foundation piece for the Rockets’ future. Working alongside teammates and developing chemistry within the system, he continued to show the playmaking ability and defensive instincts that made him a top-four pick. The trajectory of his early career suggests continued growth as he looks to help lead the Rockets back to playoff contention.