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The 2023 NBA Draft will see the projected generational talent French prodigy Victor Wembanyama enter the league. Many other exciting players will be selected though. There are some thrilling storylines too and the prospect of an NBA first. If the projections are correct the Thompson twins could become the first siblings in NBA history to both get selected as top 10 picks. Below, we cast a detailed look at the younger (by 1 minute) of the twins Ausar Thompson.
Ausar Thompson Draft Profile
Ausar Thompson position: Shooting guard/small forward
Ausar Thompson height: 6’7″ (2.01 m)
Ausar Thompson wingspan: 6’9″ (2.06 m)
Ausar Thompson age: 20
Ausar Thompson team: City Reapers
Ausar Thompson 2022-23 stats: 16.3 points; 6.9 rebounds; 6.1 assists; 2.7 steals, 1.3 blocks in 27.6 minutes
Ausar Thompson is Amen’s twin and together with his brother, he lifted the Overtime Elite league title this year with their team City Reapers. Ausar opted out of college to join this new league and he was named the Finals MVP in back-to-back seasons. Ausar Thompson was also the league’s MVP during the regular season this term. Labelled a five-star talent Ausar is expected to be a top-10 pick in the coming draft.
Ausar Thompson Overview
Ausar Thompson is seen as one of the best defenders from the entire 2023 class. He was top 5 for the Overtime Elite League this season in blocks per game (1.3), steals (2.7) and deflections (3.2). Ausar’s athleticism and great vertical speed allow him to defend all positions but centre. Undoubtedly, the biggest impact he makes is on the defensive end but Ausar is also a gifted attacking asset as his 16.3 points per game and 6.1 assists show. His ability to push the tempo and to produce precise passes even when charging at full speed towards the paint should make him a valuable asset for any team that likes to play at a fast pace.
He is best described as a two-way playmaking wing that has all the athleticism and physic needed to develop into a great NBA player. Ausar is most dangerous in transition attack on the forward end of things, while defensively he already looks to have all the instincts and abilities needed to be impactful.
Concerns
The main concern we have regarding Ausar Thompson is his shooting. Ausar shot only 30% from beyond the arc and 67% from the free-throw line this season despite his MVP awards. He is still not comfortable from mid-range and distance and this could prove to be an issue in the NBA.
The other concern we have regarding Ausar is his lack of desire to take shots when left open. Knowing his main weakness the shot from a distance Ausar doesn’t trust it and in the modern NBA, this could be seriously damaging regarding his minutes on the court as no coach tolerates hesitant shooters.
NBA Draft Projection
We believe that Ausar Thompson will be selected by the Utah Jazz with the 9th pick and with this, the Thompson twins will become the first-ever siblings to be selected as top 10 picks in the entire NBA history.
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