Ausar Thompson
A soaring, high-flying wing with a preternatural feel for the game, he skipped college to forge his own path to the NBA.
Born 2003 (age 23)·American basketball player·Birthday: January 30·Generation Z
Biography
Ausar Thompson's basketball story is one of modern ambition and fraternal synergy. Born in Oakland and raised in Florida, he and his twin brother Amen dominated the high school scene at Pine Crest, winning a state title and establishing themselves as elite prospects. Instead of following the traditional NCAA route, the Thompsons made a bold, forward-thinking leap to the new Overtime Elite professional development league. There, Ausar's game blossomed; his athleticism, defensive instincts, and improving offensive repertoire made him the league's cornerstone. He led his team to back-to-back championships, claiming MVP honors both times, proving the viability of his chosen path. Selected fifth overall by the Detroit Pistons in the 2023 NBA Draft, he immediately impressed with a mature, all-around game, showcasing a defensive tenacity and basketball IQ that belied his age. His journey represents a new generation of player, one unafraid to chart a unique course to the sport's highest level.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Ausar was born in 2003, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ausar Was Born
The biggest hits of 2003
#1 Movie
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Best Picture
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
#1 TV Show
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Ausar's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
2003Born
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2008Started school
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2016Became a teenager
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2019Could drive
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2021Could vote
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2024Turned 21
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 23 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected 5th overall by the Detroit Pistons in the 2023 NBA Draft.
- Named MVP of the Overtime Elite league for the 2022-23 season.
- Won two consecutive OTE championships, earning Finals MVP honors both times.
- Led Pine Crest School to a Florida Class 4A state basketball championship in 2021.
Did You Know?
He is the identical twin brother of NBA player Amen Thompson, who was drafted one pick before him in 2023.
He and his brother were the first players drafted into the NBA directly from the Overtime Elite program.
He is known for his remarkable vertical leap and has completed impressive in-game alley-oop dunks.
His middle name is XLNC, pronounced 'Excellence'.
“We push each other every day; iron sharpens iron.”
