There have been lots of out-of-the-box ways the NBA’s players have made their way into the league.
The most common way, obviously, is by attending college and getting drafted. That’s how Brandon Miller made his way. Victor Wembanyama, obviously, falls into the overseas pro route. Scoot Henderson took the G League Ignite route.
But no one has ever come from Overtime Elite — a relatively new operation giving high schoolers another path to the NBA. Amen and Ausar Thompson are going to be the first to actually complete it when they’re drafted in the 2023 NBA Draft.
Let’s talk a bit about how we got here.
So what is Overtime Elite?
So you’ve probably heard of Overtime — it’s the digital sports network that you’ve almost certainly seen highlights and funny videos from on Instagram or TikTok.
The Overtime Elite is the basketball league the company created to give players another pathway to the NBA while also giving their viewers something to watch. The company recruits high school juniors and seniors trying to make the jump to the pros.
Overtime pays its players salaries at a minimum of $100,000 while also preparing them for life as professional athletes. But the biggest selling point, obviously, is the basketball.
So that's where the Thompson Twins are coming from?
Yes. The Thompson twins both played two seasons in the Overtime Elite League on their path to entering the NBA draft.
Both Amen and Ausar Thompson are slated to be lottery picks in the draft and will likely both end up going in the top 10. In our latest mock draft, we have them going fourth and sixth, respectively.
No one else from the Overtime League has ever been drafted?
Nope. The Thompson Twins would be the first to ever be drafted from OTE. With that being said, the league has produced some NBA players.
Three players from OTE were actually signed to NBA rosters in the last year. Jean Montero signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Knicks last season, giving the team his rights in the NBA G League. Jai Smith signed on to the Kings’ Summer League roster last year. And Dominick Barlow signed a two-way deal with the Spurs and actually played some games for the team last year.
Will more players be drafted from OTE?
Absolutely. There isn’t an obvious talent like either of the Thompson Twins coming up, but names to watch in the 2024 draft are Izan Almansa and Alex Sarr.
In a way-too-early 2024 NBA mock draft, those two are slated to go in the first round. A lot can change between now and then, but they’re both talents worth keeping an eye on.
The pipeline to the NBA draft appears to be as expansive as it’s ever been and, with the Thompsons making the leap, OTE appears to be a part of that now.
Will it ever be as big as the more traditional route of college basketball? Probably not. The competition isn’t as fierce as it is in overseas professional leagues, either. But the players seem to view it as a legitimate option here. And, if that remains the case, then the league will have staying power.
