Amen and Ausar Thompson have an opportunity to write some NBA history at the 2023 NBA Draft on Thursday at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.

As unusual as it is that the brothers from San Leandro, Calif. have spent two seasons playing in the Overtime Elite program in Atlanta, both skipping their senior years in high school, this could be a bigger milestone: They could become the first twins ever to be selected as top 10 picks in the same Draft.

Amen is a 6-foot-7 point guard, known for getting to the rim but especially for his deft passing. Ausar is identical in appearance and dimensions, but he is a wing. His defensive game is said to be more NBA-ready than his brother’s, and he is likely to be effective as a scorer in transition.

2023 NBA Draft Prospect Highlights: Amen Thompson | Ausar Thompson

Both 20-year-olds need to improve as shooters but have enough skills already and potential to develop that many mock drafts see them as early candidates to walk across the stage to shake Commissioner Adam Silver’s hand. Sam Vecenie of The Athletic, for example, projects Amen going to Orlando at No. 6 and Ausar landing in Utah at No. 9.

Regardless of Draft slot, it seems clear the Thompsons will become another pair of twins to play in the NBA. 

Here are a half dozen DNA duos, counting down according to career impact:

6. Caleb and Cody Martin

Total seasons: 8 (2019-2023)

Combined stats: 380 games, 2,633 points, 1,381 rebounds, 642 assists

The Hornets selected Cody Martin (left) with the 36th pick in the 2019 draft, while Caleb Martin went undrafted.

You might recall Caleb Martin from the past month or two. He is the undrafted player on the Miami Heat who nearly snagged the new Larry Bird Trophy as MVP of the Eastern Conference Finals, based on a breakout performance against Boston in which he averaged 19.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 35.6 minutes while shooting 60.2% overall and 48.9% from deep. He came down to Earth in the Finals against Denver – just 7.4, 4.4 and 28.5, shooting 37.5% and 33.3% – but will start a three-year, $20.4 million contract this season. Not bad for a guy who split his college years between N.C. State and Nevada, and twice had to play his way up from two-way status.

While Charlotte cut Caleb in 2021, it held onto Cody, whom it had drafted No. 36 overall (the Hornets signed Caleb to an Exhibit 10 contract that same summer). The two played together off and on for two years, but Cody impressed the front office more. He’ll start a new deal worth $31.4 million over the next four seasons.

5. Jason and Jarron Collins

Total seasons: 23 (Jason 2001-2014, Jarron 2001-2011)

Combined stats: 1,277 games, 4,716 points, 4,285 rebounds, 1,045 assists

Jason (left) and Jarron Collins entered the NBA in 2001 after 4 years at Stanford University.

Stanford seems to manufacture 7-foot NBA talent in twin packaging. Before Brook and Robin Lopez, there were these guys out of Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles. Jason, now 44, was drafted No. 18 by Houston in 2001. He played for six teams over 13 seasons from 2001-2014, mostly with the Nets. His best season came in 2004-05 when he started 80 games and averaged 6.4 points and 6.1 rebounds in 31.8 minutes. He appeared in 95 playoff games and reached the Finals with New Jersey in his first two NBA seasons.

Jarron arrived in the second round, the No. 53 pick overall by Utah. He spent his 10 seasons entirely in the West with the Jazz, Suns, Trail Blazers and Clippers. His best individual work came as a rookie (6.4 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 20.6 mpg and 68 starts for Utah). Jarron was a coach with Golden State, winning three rings, before joining New Orleans’ staff in 2021.

4. Marcus and Markieff Morris

Total seasons: 24 (2011-2023)

Combined stats: 1,533 games, 17,603 points, 7,341 rebounds, 2,383 assists

Marcus (left) and Markieff Morris were drafted consecutively with the 13th and 14th picks in 2011.

When the Morris twins were up for contract extensions in 2014, Suns president of basketball operations Lon Babby worked out an unusual deal with their agent Leon Rose. He agreed to a payout of $52 million over four years – then let the brothers divvy it up. Markieff wound up getting $32 million over four while Marcus slotted in at $20 million, and life was good.

“We told them it didn’t matter,” Markieff said. “If they just put $13 [million] a year for the Morris twins, that would’ve been great. They wouldn’t even have to say our names.”

The tough 33-year-old forwards spent 2 ½ seasons together in Phoenix but have gone their own ways in NBA employment since. Markieff, drafted 13th out of Kansas, one spot ahead of Jayhawks teammate Marcus, has played for eight organizations, four in each conference. Marcus has played for six different teams, three on each side. Marcus has scored a little more and appeared in 67 playoff games to Markieff’s 50, but the latter has rebounded a bit better and earned a championship ring with the Lakers in the 2020 Orlando bubble.

3. Brook and Robin Lopez

Total seasons: 30 (2008-2023)

Combined stats: 1,922 games, 23,792 points, 10,582 rebounds, 2,160 assists

The Lopez brothers nearly both became lottery picks in the 2008 NBA Draft, with Brook (left) going at No. 10 and Robin going No. 15.

There is no mistaking these identical twins. Both stand 7-feet tall, both are 35 years old, both attended Stanford after growing up in Fresno, Calif. But their haircuts, their personalities and their games are significantly different.

Brook has a more conservative coiffure, has logged more than a third additional minutes and had more impact at both ends while starting 96% of his games. The 10th player selected in 2008 by the Nets, Lopez averaged 18.6 points and 7.1 rebounds for that team, earning an All-Star spot in 2013. Then he transformed his game to keep up with NBA trends. Consider: In his first eight seasons, Lopez shot 3-of-31 (.097%) from 3-point range. Over the past seven, he is 785-of-2,247 on threes (.349%). Lately, he also has thrived as Milwaukee’s last line of defense, earning runner-up status last season in Defensive Player of the Year balloting.

Robin was picked by Phoenix five spots after his twin. He has the Sideshow Bob hair, has played for nine franchises in 15 years and split his time as a starter and reserve. His career stats are modest (8.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg) though his per-36 contributions make a difference (14.3, 8.0). In recent seasons, Robin has unsheathed a hook shot that is as effective as it is entertaining when he rolls into its launch.

For the record, both Lopez bros are fans of all things Disney, as well as being Star Wars and comic book aficionados. Robin, however, is the one who occasionally flashed the irrational disdain for team mascots.

2. Horace and Harvey Grant

Total seasons: 28 seasons (Horace 1987-2004, Harvey 1988-1999)

Combined stats: 1,948 games, 20,777 points, 12,879 rebounds, 3,794 assists

Horace (right) and Harvey Grant did not enter the NBA the same year and had very different playing styles.

They didn’t arrive together, they didn’t exit together and there were major differences in their respective NBA careers. That doesn’t stop them from ranking as the second most-notable twins in league history. Born on July 4, 1965, in Augusta, Ga., they excelled at Hancock Central High in Sparta and played at Clemson. Horace spent four years there, becoming the 10th overall pick in 1987 to Chicago. Harvey logged a year at junior college, joined Horace for one year at Clemson, then transferred to and wrapped up at Oklahoma. Washington made him the No. 12 pick in the 1988 NBA Draft.

Horace has the gaudier resume, since he joined Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen for what became Chicago’s first three-peat of titles from 1991-1993. He was an All-Star in 1994, with Jordan gone (temporarily), then he signed as a free agent with Orlando and reached the 1995 Finals. In 2001, the four-time All-Defense selection got his fourth ring with the Lakers, again playing for Phil Jackson.

Harvey, listed as 6-foot-8 to his twin’s 6-foot-10, had three straight seasons averaging 18+ points for the Wizards, more than Horace ever managed. But he played in only 19 postseason games for the Wizards, Trail Blazers and Sixers to his brother’s 170. One area that favors Harvey: NBA lineage. Two of his son’s (and Horace’s nephews) – Jerami and Jerian – made it to the league for careers of varying success, while a third, Jerai, has played internationally for a variety of teams, including in Italy and Lithuania.

1. Dick and Tom Van Arsdale

Total seasons: 24 seasons (1965-77)

Combined stats: 1,850 games, 29,311 points, 7,749 rebounds, 5,142 assists

Tom (left) and Dick Van Arsdale were selected one pick apart in the 1965 draft and were both NBA All-Rookie First-Team selections.

Of the eight All-Star appearances made by members of a twin tandem, the Van Arsdales have six of them. Each went three straight years, Dick from 1969-1971, Tom 1970-72. They were drafted on consecutive picks in 1965, Dick to the Knicks at No. 10 overall and Tom to the Pistons at No. 11. Each earned All-Rookie status in 1965-66, and their careers synched up perfectly, 12 seasons each. Not bad for a couple of Indiana guys who learned the game playing on a patch of dirt and a makeshift hoop nailed to a tree.

Beyond that, though, their NBA paths diverged. Dick was lost to New York in the 1968 expansion draft, missing out on the Knicks’ title runs in 1970 and 1973. But with the Suns, he participated on four playoff teams, including the 1976 squad that lost to Boston in the Finals. Dick spent the rest of his career in Phoenix. He scored the first points in team history, still ranks fourth in Suns career points and is a member of their Ring of Honor.

Tom split his career between the Pistons, Royals (now Kings), Sixers, Hawks and (for a final season with Dick) Suns. All were in down cycles, which is why he holds the NBA record for most career games played (929) without a playoff appearance. He also is the highest-scoring player (14,232) to never reach the playoffs.

* * *

Steve Aschburner has written about the NBA since 1980. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.

The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Warner Bros. Discovery.