The Myth of “There is Always a Better Twin” and Thoughts on Amen Thompson

I don't think draft position matters after you sign the rookie deal. Labeling someone a bust because they didn't become a superstar or whatever is silly. If you make an NBA rotation for a decade you're not a wasted pick.

 

One thing I wonder--if Amen and Ausar already have such good instincts/basketball IQ coming from OTE, which is kind of a run-and-gun chaotic mess, how good are they going to be in those areas after a few years in the NBA?

I've been impressed with Amen's decisionmaking and ability to be in the right place at the right time.

He definitely has some work to do on basketball skills, but I think that will come.

 

I watched a lot of Horace and Harvey. I also remember what other players and coaches said at the time - and Horace Grant was a lot better player. He was a vastly better defender, an excellent defender. He was also bigger than Harvey and taller. They really were not very similar. Yes, Horace played with Jordan and Pippen and that Magic team, and he did his job - he was an exceptional defender, he rebounded, boxed out and was tough and didn’t need a lot of shots.

Harvey wasn’t a bad player - but he was very different than his brother in his style of game and impact.

Sorry, but yes - Horace Grant was a lot better. I don’t have time to look it up but I bet Horace make 2-4 times as much money as well, because he was clearly the better player.

As for the Harrison twins. They didn’t play enough to have a real strong opinion on.

As for the Martin twins, it’s hard to say because one of them (I get their names confused) has barely played the last couple years.

I expect some degree of similarity between twins, but in most cases, where they get playing time - one ends up noticeably better than the other.

I agree with you on the Morris twins.

As for Amen versus Asur, both are talented athletes - but Amen is the better athlete. You can tell by watching them play a lot - especially at OTE. Amen had an extra gear and his body control is better.

Does that guarantee that Amen will be a better player? No - more goes into it than that.

If I had to put a number on it, I would say both are very high level athletes. One is top 5 and the other is probably top 25.

I respect your opinions, and you are well informed. It could be a matter of how we measure variance. To me the difference between Horace and Harvey or Brook and Robin is large - all are/were very good, but as you move up the ladder so to speak, the difference become more and more important and pronounced. It’s like the gulf between a multi time all star and a real superstar - the differences statistically can seem small, but the outcome differences can be quite large in actual impact.

 

I like the kid, but you are aware that that bar is much higher than most people thought before this season?

 

The quicker Amen moves towards success the faster it accelerates away.

 

Don't know if I agree with you or not, but that's a damn fine post.
;-)

 

I dont think Amen is afraid to shoot. he shots when he is open.

 

Thanks for the research. I stand corrected

not even sure why it mattered lol… long story is made short on both these kids. Learn to shoot or never remotely reach your ceiling. The end.

 

If Amen turns out to be the best player on this team we're probably going to win some titles.

 

Zmen Thompson is the best twin

 

This is a case of Twins that are more than Twins.......Siamese Twins.

 

I guess people said the same things about Simmons in the beginning.

A 6'10, 6'11 who can play like a point guard, defend 1-5, jump and dunk.......lol....

 

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Simmons didn't become the best player of his team. And even if he never improved his shot, he could still be a valuable player if he wasn't such a wuss. Amen looks to be a much better person in that regard.

 

Great thread, great post by OP. Disagree on his conclussions.
Brook Lopez has been #1 option on his team on the NBA. Robin Lopez is a decent big man, but dit not get anywhere close to that.
Leaning towards Nook in the Grant Brothers debate. I started watching at the end, but in terms of relevance, there is a gap.
Same thing with the Collins brothers. Jason was a starter for the nets for a couple of years, the Kidd run if I'm not mistaken. Jarron was back up.

 

But rigidly speaking we are talking basketball here and Simmons at least has an advantage that he has made the All Star Selection for 2-3 times already I think....

And he is also much taller and stronger than Amen.....

 

Simmons, Green, Zion, Barnes, Wemby, and Cade all strike me as types that like the celebrity of being a basketball player more than the basketball itself. The twins are not like that. They're also more athletic than Simmons was. Not worried about Amen whatsoever. He's going to be a star. Not worried about Jabari either. This team has 3 incredible young talents with their heads on straight.

 

Seems people like to talk about the Twins as they were their own sons lmao.....

Nobody is the same until they make the same mistakes......

Twin players are fine, they usually are good characters but there has not been a case of Superstar Twins yet.....it is what it is...

You can be high on them alright but treating them like they are your sons and you know them that well....that is going way too far.....

You do you, man.