The Portland Trail Blazers worked out two potential lottery picks for the first time this spring, and they just happen to come from the same home.
Twin brothers Amen and Ausar Thompson, both 20, visited the Blazers facility on Tuesday in one of the more unique workout sessions ever conducted by the franchise.
The twins, both projected to be lottery picks in the June 22 NBA draft, were excited to go through their first workout. But they received an added bonus when Damian Lillard showed up.
“It was great seeing Dame,” the 6-foot-7 Amen Thompson said. “We’re both from Oakland. He’s somebody I’ve looked up to since I was younger.”
The 6-6 Ausar Thompson was equally pleased that Lillard was in the building.
“It was the first time I’ve ever seen him,” Ausar Thompson said. “Super cool to see someone I could possibly be playing with next year.”
Ausar Thompson said when he saw Lillard, he simply said, “What’s up?” But he and Amen hoped to chat up Lillard later.
Whatever conversations they had with Lillard could be the full extent of any discussions pertaining to potentially becoming teammates.
According to NBA.com’s consensus mock draft, Amen Thompson could go as high as No. 4 to Houston, while Ausar Thompson might land at No. 6 to Orlando.
The Blazers own the No. 3 pick, and the top three projected players in virtually every mock draft on the planet are Victor Wembanyama, Brandon Miller and Scoot Henderson.
Furthermore, the Blazers are widely expected to trade the No. 3 pick in an effort to acquire a veteran star to play alongside Lillard, who has made it clear that he isn’t interested in seeing the franchise acquire more young talent.
Still, the Blazers were wisely doing their due diligence by working out the twins. It’s possible the Blazers could trade back and acquire a player and a lower lottery pick.
NBA draft prospect Amen Thompson worked out for the Portland Trail Blazers on May 30, 2023.
Both twins offer intrigue. They spent most of their childhood in the Bay Area before moving to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to play at Pine Crest High School. They gave up their senior year and a chance to play in college when in 2021 they each signed two-year contracts to play in Overtime Elite, a six-team professional league in Atlanta.
With the City Reapers, both established themselves as NBA prospects and said they gained a lot by playing in a more structured environment where they were expected to conduct themselves as professionals while running more complex schemes.
Amen Thompson is a point guard who can also play shooting guard. Ausar is the opposite.
Both said they have enjoyed playing together since birth but realize that the end of them being teammates is near.
“It’s crazy because I sit here and we’re at the Portland Trail Blazers together, but they’re not going to get both of us,” Ausar Thompson said. “It’s funny when you think of it like that, but I just think of it as I’ve just come here to work.”
They figured they would continue doing workouts together for NBA teams, and both said that helps them through the process because they push each another.
But they will be just fine playing for different teams in the NBA.
“It’s bittersweet,” Ausar Thompson said. “I know wherever he is, he’s going to be good. I know wherever I am, I’m going to be good. We’re not necessarily dependent on each other. I love him to death, but we can move on and be fine.”
It’s inevitable that one will be selected before the other. For that reason, they view the workouts as yet another level of competition between them.
“I feel like before the draft we’re going to do a little bet to see who goes first out of us,” Amen Thompson said. “But it’s not been too competitive. I feel like we both support each other and give each other tips. I’m fine if he goes first and he is fine if I go first.”
— Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook). Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts
