Thompson twins witnessed their promising rookie-season playoff runs end. Amen Thompson’s Houston Rockets were eliminated by the Golden State Warriors in Game 7, while Ausar Thompson’s Detroit Pistons fell in a tightly contested first-round series against the New York Knicks.
Through an X post, Isaiah Thomas’ “jumper” advice arrives when the Thompson twins stand at an inflection point. Their physical gifts are undeniable, but lasting NBA success demands more than athleticism—it requires craft. This summer’s offseason lab work on their jumper could well determine whether the Thompson twins could become perennial All-Stars or talented also-rans.
Isaiah Thomas Urges Thompson Twins To Elevate Game After Playoff Exits
Isaiah Thomas, the two-time NBA All-Star known for his fearless scoring, took to X on May 5, 2025, to deliver pointed summer homework for Amen and Ausar Thompson, whose rookie-season playoff runs concluded abruptly this week.
Thomas lauded the brothers’ elite athletic tools—speed, strength, and verticality—while zeroing in on the one skill he believes will unlock their superstar potential: their jump shot. “Thompson twins been special!!! Man work on yall jumper this summer and it’s OVER!!! There faster, stronger and more athletic than almost everybody in the league. Damn they got action to be STARS,” Thomas said.
Thomas’ missive arrives at a pivotal moment for the Thompson twins. Amen’s Houston Rockets fell 103–89 in a decisive Game 7 loss to the Golden State Warriors at the Toyota Center, despite his 24 points and nine rebounds.
Across the country, Ausar’s Detroit Pistons were ousted in six tightly contested games by the New York Knicks. Pistons were edged out 116–113 by the Knicks in Game 6 at Little Caesars Arena, a defeat sealed by Jalen Brunson’s 40-point performance.
Amen and Ausar Thompson’s Playoff Journeys
Amen Thompson, the No. 4 overall pick in 2023, exploded for 24 points with nine rebounds and three assists in Game 7 of the first-round series, keeping Houston alive through two straight victories before a late Warriors surge sealed a 103–89 defeat on May 4.
Despite his defensive versatility and playmaking growth, Houston’s supporting cast faltered against Golden State’s playoff-hardened nucleus—Stephen Curry and Draymond Green—underscoring the thin margin for error in postseason basketball.
Across the conference divide, Ausar Thompson, Detroit’s No. 5 pick, posted a team-high 19.5 points per contest and flashed a promising two-way impact, averaging 1.7 steals and 5.1 rebounds over the six-game series.
The Pistons battled back from a 3–1 deficit to force a competitive Game 6 in Detroit, but Jalen Brunson’s 40-point performance—including a series-clinching three with 4.3 seconds remaining—clinched a 116–113 Knicks victory and a second-round berth for New York.
Now, why does the jump shot matter? Amen shot just 31% from three-point range in the series, a figure Detroit exploited in the closing minutes of Games 6 and 7. Detroit ranked last in opponent three-point defense, but Pistons guard Ausar’s 23% mark limited Detroit’s offensive spacing, allowing New York’s Miami Heat–caliber defense to collapse his drives.
Meanwhile, Thomas himself overcame shooting inconsistencies early in his career, transforming into a reliable 37 percent three-point shooter en route to an All-Star campaign in 2016–17. His message to the Thompson twins echoes the developmental arcs of predecessors who parlayed perimeter proficiency into All-NBA accolades.
What’s Next for the Thompson Twins?
Already widely regarded as one of the league’s premier young perimeter specialists after shutting down Stephen Curry in a regular-season meeting—holding him to three points on 1-of-10 shooting—the Houston Rockets guard’s relentless on-ball pressure and grab-the-glass mentality provide a sturdy defensive base upon which to build his offensive arsenal.
Meanwhile, the Pistons guard’s combination of length, athleticism, and instincts translated to more than one highlight-reel strip and dunk this postseason. Yet without an improved midrange and outside shot, his drives often culminated in contested finishers or kick-outs to open shooters.
Isaiah Thomas’s public call to action punctuates a season of tantalizing promise for Amen and Ausar Thompson, whose twin trajectories are now at a crossroads. If they heed his directive—pairing their undeniable physical gifts with a consistent, high-level jumper—they may not only rebound from playoff disappointment but also accelerate toward superstar status.
As training camps open this fall, all eyes will be on the Thompson twins to see if Thomas’s summer homework pays dividends when the 2025–26 campaign tips off.
