The Houston Rockets defeated the Detroit Pistons on Friday night , 111-104. The Rockets and Pistons drafted twin brothers Amen Thompson and Ausar Thompson back-to-back, fourth and fifth, in the 2023 lottery. Plenty has happened since then. So, which twin currently finds himself in a better situation?
Rockets-Pistons: The Thompson Twin That Could Win A Ring
To some minds, the Houston Rockets’ title chances were put on ice before the season even started. They took a titanic hit with the loss of Fred VanVleet to an ACL injury, probably (though not necessarily ) for the season. Before that news broke, some bookies had Houston second in title odds only to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Now the Rockets’ Thompson twin is the nominal starting point guard. Meanwhile, his brother, of the Detroit Pistons, has found himself on the Eastern Conference’s top seed. So which twin currently looks closer to the bragging rights of an NBA championship?
Friday Night
On Friday night, Amen had 15 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and a block. Ausar had 12 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and two steals. The biggest difference was probably the fouls, though. Amen finished his 39-minute outing with a clean slate. Ausar was limited to just 23 minutes with five strikes.
The Twins’ Seasons So Far
Friday night was a small measure of revenge for Amen. In Houston’s second game of the season, Detroit put them in a 0-2 hole with a 115-111 Pistons victory . In that game, Ausar outscored Amen 19 points to 10.
That October Rockets loss looked especially bad for Amen, given his more pronounced offensive role. Since then, their averages have essentially inverted. Ausar is averaging 10.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.7 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game. Amen is averaging 18.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.6 blocks. They both average about 51% from the field, but their other shooting splits tell a different story.
Amen shoots much better from the free-throw line than his brother. He’s surprisingly reliable from there at 79.7%. He is, however, utterly woeful from the three-point line – 19.5%. Ausar shoots just 57.4% from the free throw line but induces ever-so-slightly less woe at 26.3% from three. However, Ausar’s 0.5 three-point attempts per game make the difference meaningless. Amen’s 1.9 per game obviously aren’t many, but it does demonstrate at least a willingness to try to improve.
Amen was always projected as the better creator of the Thompson twins, which was why the Rockets selected him fourth. The VanVleet injury certainly gave him ample opportunity to show why. It hasn’t always been pretty. The results of trial by fire rarely are. But Amen has soared at times this season, including against his brother Ausar on Friday night. But the brothers themselves aren’t the only factors in their chances at a ring this season.
Two Promising Young Cores
Clearly, neither the Rockets nor the Pistons are peak championship favourites this season. Still, this is the parity era NBA that had the Indiana Pacers storm their way to a completely unexpected Finals Game 7 just last season. The Rockets are 27-16, and the Pistons are 32-11. Both teams are well-positioned, both as unlikely dark horses this season and for the future.
The Pistons definitely have the more conventional build-around star in Cade Cunningham . This season, Cunningham is averaging 25.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and a career high 9.7 assists. He was selected as an All-Starter (whatever that means in the latest format overhaul ) and looks well on his way to another All-NBA team.
More conventional doesn’t necessarily mean a better fit with a Thompson twin. Houston’s Alperen Sengun could well be All-NBA-bound this season himself. Sengun is averaging 21.2 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 6.4 assists. Both Cunningham and Sengun operate as playmaking hubs that enable Amen and Ausar’s cuts to the rim. They both benefit in different ways from the Thompson twins’ defensive versatility as well. Cunningham is a point guard who would rather not chase smaller players. Sengun is a center who can use all of the extra weak-side rim protection he can get. Both brothers can help out with their costars’ defensive needs.
Spacing Issues
Offensively, both twins contribute to spacing issues that could ultimately doom these teams in the playoffs. Both teams are in the bottom six in three-point makes per game in 2025-26.
Cunningham isn’t a near non-shooter like Sengun, but he’s far from a great shooter, either. His three-point percentage has regressed from last year’s 35.6% on 6.0 attempts per game to 32.1% on 5.9.
Sengun started the season off strong from range , but now sits at 29.9% on 2.1 attempts per game. Houston has other spacing woes outside of Thompson and Sengun, though. The main one would be constructing the roster around pairing Sengun with a non-shooting (now injured ) big. Or perhaps filling out the roster/rotation with “let them shoot” defensive wings like Josh Okogie and Jae’Sean Tate .
Picking Between The Thompson Twins’ Title Chances
Despite similar spacing issues for Detroit, they have two long-term advantages. One is simply being in the East. There is no OKC or Denver Nuggets to get through. The last two Eastern Conference champions, the Pacers and the Boston Celtics, are awaiting the returns of injured stars. One East team has to make the finals every year. Detroit has a shot at a fairy tale run this year and should only keep getting better.
Speaking of, Detroit’s other advantage is that they haven’t even made their big swing for a veteran yet. Adding all-time scoring great Kevin Durant was supposed to revitalise Houston’s offense. Instead, they lost VanVleet, and their offense still looks in need of salvation (perhaps via trade? ). Detroit might not make its move in time for these playoffs, but it’s just a matter of time. They’ll hope for better luck than Houston when that time comes.
As for this year? As the rosters are currently constructed? One team has a two-time Finals MVP, and the other doesn’t. Say what you like about the Slim Reaper (he’s always willing to talk trash ), but without him, either Thompson twin’s chance at a ring would be real slim indeed.
Featured Image: David Reginek-Imagn Images