Ausar Thompson on Brother, Fellow Top-Five Pick Amen: ‘I Don’t Like Him’

Nothing like a little sibling rivalry to begin their NBA careers.

Nothing like a little sibling rivalry to begin their NBA careers.

Amen and Ausar Thompson, who were drafted with back-to-back picks in June’s draft, opened up about their rivalry with USA Today earlier this week.

Ausar, who went No. 5 to the Pistons, one pick after Amen went No. 4 to the Rockets, may already have a chip on his shoulder based on that alone. Going from teammates in the G-League to opponents on the NBA floor has changed the mindset of the twin duo.

“It’s different,” Ausar said. “I just don’t like his team, really. I don’t like him, really. I don’t like any team other than the Detroit Pistons.”

Amen echoed the sentiment.

“I wish the best for him but if I’m playing him I’m trying to kill him.”

It will be interesting to follow the twins given the weight of expectations upon them. Both are expected to play key roles on rebuilding teams, and become players who can be franchise cornerstones for the long term. It doesn’t always work out the way that fans expect, but the Thompson twins have proven to have the work ethic at the G-League level to be successful. Only time will tell whether it will carryover to the NBA.