Amen Thompson was the fourth overall pick by Houston in the 2023 NBA Draft… in 62 games with 23 starts as a rookie last season, he averaged 9.5 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 2.6 apg and 1.3 spg… Thompson was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team… in 2023-24, he joined Luka Dončić as the only starters with more than two appearances in 2023-24 to have averaged at least 13.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 3.0 apg and 1.40 spg.

Thompson bypassed college and spent two seasons with Overtime Elite (OTE), an Atlanta-based league which offers players ages 16-20 a pathway to becoming professional athletes… in 2022-23, he teamed with his twin brother Ausar to lead the City Reapers to the OTE championship.

Thompson was selected with the fourth overall pick by Houston in the 2023 NBA Draft… his twin brother Ausar was picked fifth by Detroit; since the NBA/ABA merger in 1976, it marked first time brothers were picked Top-10 in the same draft… his older brother, Troy, played basketball at Prairie View A&M… Thompson was born near Oakland, Calif. but went to high school at Pine Crest School in Florida… he won the Florida state championship in 2020-21 and bypassed his senior season to join OTE… Thompson was selected to the USA Basketball Men’s Select Team to help prepare the national team for the 2024 Paris Olympics.