Amen Thompson has unlikely inspiration for his next evolution

Amen Thompson has generally been regarded as the better twin compared to his brother Ausar on the Pistons, but Amen now needs to follow in Ausar’s footsteps. Ausar has ascended into the top tier of NBA defenders this season and it’s helped Detroit to the best record in the East. If Amen can dig into a similar defensive impact, the Rockets could have a deep playoff run.

Ausar Thompson’s defense has transformed the Pistons

Detroit’s meteoric rise from worst record in the league two seasons ago to best in the East now is well-documented. But Ausar’s role is often overlooked. Even last season, the Pistons were middling along until Ausar Thompson returned to full health and uplifted the entire defense.

Ausar impacts the game in multiple ways on defense. Against a star player, he’s an incredible isolation defender and extremely difficult to screen. But he can also disrupt plays as a weak side defender to create turnovers or block shots.

Even though Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren rightfully get a lot of credit for the Pistons’ success this season, Ausar deserves a large portion too. His defensive acumen is nearly unmatched across the league. If it weren’t for Victor Wembanyama, he might be a favorite for Defensive Player of the Year.

Amen Thompson is capable of doing the same 

We know Amen Thompson can have a similar impact if he’s able to focus on defense. After all, he made First Team All-Defense last season as a 22-year-old. His ability to dominate on that end and produce offensively is what makes him an invaluable part of Houston’s young core. But he hasn’t been able to match Ausar’s defense this season for multiple reasons.

For one, Amen has much more offensive responsibilities. He's averaging 18 points and 5 assists per game this season, compared to Ausar's 10 points and 3 assists per game. Unlike his brother, Amen doesn't have the luxury of an elite point guard and playmaker on his team to make things easier.

Still, it's exciting to see Amen's clear defensive potential reflected in his brother's fearsome defense. Amen might not be able to maintain that same defensive intensity along with his heavy offensive workload during the long regular season, but he could reach another level in the playoffs. When Amen Thompson taps in to his full defensive potential while maintaining his offensive aggression, he will be a top player in the league.