When Amen and Ausar are in the same city, the competitive gauge is turned to 10. But that also means that when they’re apart, they’re riding for each other just as much. On and off the court. That connectivity across state lines has been fueled by a two-word text that gets sent out 40 minutes before tip: “Go Kill.”
“It’s probably like a 71-game occurrence,” Ausar says. “One, because sometimes I truly will forget he has a game. It just doesn’t count if you send it during the game. Like, if he’s playing on the West Coast, I’ll think the game’s at, like, seven o’clock, and it’s really at like nine. Or he’ll go from the West Coast to the East Coast, and I’ll think his game was later, and it’s really earlier, so then I won’t be able to send it in time. But I do text him that before every game. I try at least.”
The twins interpret the phrase similarly. To be as aggressive as possible on both ends of the court. To play every game like it’s possibly your last. To give it your all. To dominate in any way, even if that means there are only 9 points next to your name in the box score. “Let your presence be known out there,” Amen says.
The daily practice of writing out their affirmations is still as present as it was when they were 9 years old, writing out those vision boards. The habit isn’t exclusive to their pre-game rituals either. Ausar got a new poster board to write out what he wants to attack each day. And Amen got back into journaling when the Rockets entered the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs this past season, inspired by his grandmother gifting him a framed version of his vision board for his Houston home.
“Any time I was in a hotel, you’ve got the pieces of paper and a pen, and I kept writing I will be great before the games. So that’s my new thing,” Amen says. “But I want to make a whole new dream board, because I did it when I was 9 years old. Now I’m 22, so just doing that I feel like will get my mind set on the things I really want to accomplish.”
So what’s on the Thompson twins’ revised vision boards after spending the past two seasons putting the L on notice? “Championships,” they both say in unison.
“But you’re not on the Rockets, though,” Amen says. “So how’re you gonna win?”
“What franchise has more championships?” Ausar asks.
“I think we’ve got the same amount. Oh no, you’ve got more,” Amen realizes. In that moment, Ausar turns around to the back collar of his jersey, pointing out the number “3” emblazoned within a small Larry O’Brien patch, denoting the Pistons’ three NBA championships. “Does my thing not say three on the back?” Ausar rhetorically asks.
“What does mine say?” Amen asks.
“Two,” Ausar says, his chest puffed out.
“Oh, it’s finna be like 10,” Amen says.
“Ten is crazy. Ten is crazy,” Ausar says, as both twins laugh. “But, nah, championships, and a lot of other things that will not be said. But they will happen.”
“Oooh. Come on,” Amen says. “That was kind of tough,”
