Ausar Thompson didn’t sound like a player trying to slow the moment down. He sounded like somebody who knows exactly how rare this is - and wants more.
This summer, Ausar and Amen Thompson became the first pair of siblings to sign massive contract extensions in the same offseason, adding another layer to what has already been a pretty wild NBA family story. Ausar’s deal comes in at roughly five years and $155 million, fully guaranteed by the Pistons. Amen landed a five-year, $208 million extension with the Rockets.
On Friday, Ausar was asked what it means to share that kind of payday with his brother.
“It’s super cool,” said Ausar. “I’m excited for what’s next in the future, and if we could break some more records.”
Amen’s reaction was a little more low-key, but the message was the same: the money is nice, the basketball comes first. He said the subject barely comes up between them, and that he didn’t even hear about Ausar’s deal until an offseason phone call cleared it up.
“I found out he signed while I was on the PS5,” said Amen. “Just playing the game; he didn’t tell me, because apparently I did the same to him.
We actually don’t talk about that stuff. I think we both have goals that are very high, and we talk about stuff like that.
We don’t talk about the money stuff and the contracts. But obviously it’s a great feeling.
Growing up, we wanted to be in these positions, and now we are. We’re just focused on the next thing after that.”
The twins entered the league in 2023, separated by just one pick in the draft. They were always viewed as serious NBA talents, but the idea that both would be locked into max-level money after only three seasons would have been hard to picture back then. Now it’s real, and it gives them a place in the league’s record book that belongs to them alone.
Amen’s extension felt like a natural next step after the season he put together in Houston. He played 79 games and averaged 18.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game while shooting 53.4% from the field.
His production helped the Rockets finish with a top-five record in the West, and the team made sure he wasn’t going anywhere for free. That won’t be an issue until 2032.
Ausar’s path looked different, but the Pistons still saw enough to make him a long-term piece. Detroit is still dealing with its ongoing standoff with Jalen Duren, yet it still moved to secure Ausar as a pillar of the roster.
In 73 games last season, he averaged 9.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.0 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game while shooting 52.5% from the field. The numbers don’t mirror his brother’s, but the impact was enough for Detroit to commit.
Now the Thompson twins are chasing the next piece of history. With their futures paid for, the idea of them meeting in the Finals as opposing siblings is suddenly on the table - and that would top even this summer’s milestone.
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Thompson said he has been focused on that part of his game all offseason, and he is aiming higher than just becoming a steadier shooter. He wants All-Star and All-NBA recognition, and the early signs from within the locker room have been encouraging, with teammates noticing progress in his shot and his physical condition. If that improvement keeps building, it could change the way opponents defend him and, in turn, open up another level for the Rockets. [Read more 🡒]
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For Smith, the changes are less about bulk and more about staying mobile, which matters on both ends for a player expected to keep expanding his role. The challenge is finding the right version of that evolution without sacrificing the agility that lets him handle smaller defenders, and that balance will be worth watching as the Rockets try to blend Durants veteran polish with the energy of their younger core. [Read more 🡒]
Kevin Durant Trade Buzz Just Put Houston's Commitment In Focus
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Even with Durant still producing at an All-NBA level, Houston has shown no appetite for opening the door on his market, and a move before the season starts looks unlikely. That stance says plenty about where the Rockets see themselves right now - not as a club tempted by star-chasing noise, but as one committed to protecting the pieces that have made the roster so promising in the first place. [Read more 🡒]