Amen and Ausar Thompson became the first brothers to be drafted in the top-5 of the same NBA draft since the 1976 merger, as Houston selected Amen fourth and Detroit took Ausar at No. 5.
History was made inside Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, during the 2023 NBA draft Thursday as commissioner Adam Silver announced brothers Amen and Ausar Thompson as back-to-back draft picks.
The Houston Rockets selected Amen No. 4 overall before the Detroit Pistons drafted Ausar at No. 5. They became the first brothers to be drafted in the top 5 of the same draft since the 1976 merger, per ESPN Stats & Information.
The Thompsons also joined Lonzo and LaMelo Ball as the only brothers to both go in the top 5 in a draft in the modern era.
“I think it’s kind of cool going first. It means a lot to my family,” Amen said.
