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A set of twins have made NBA history with their monster new deals, while one of their teammates is using those contracts as leverage in his pursuit of a max deal.
And an NBA veteran has called time on his career after 18 seasons in an emotional video alongside his son.
All of this and more in the latest edition ofNBA Daily.
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TWINS MAKE NBA HISTORY
Ausar and Amen Thompson are now worth a combined $363 million (A$510m), making NBA history.
Both brothers have signed rookie-scale contract extensions this summer with the Detroit Pistons and Houston Rockets respectively.
Ausar Thompson recently signed a five-year, $155 million (A$218m) extension with the Pistons after the former fifth overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting last season.
He led the NBA in steals per game while posting the third-most combined steals and blocks.
Thompson was also an important piece for the Pistons as they finished with the best record in the Eastern Conference before being eliminated by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Ausar Thompson has secured a monster extension with Detroit after emerging as one of the NBA’s premier defensive players last season.Source: AP
Thompson averaged 9.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists and two steals per game in his third NBA season.
His brother Amen signed a five-year, $208 million extension earlier in the offseason with the Houston Rockets.
Amen averaged 18.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game as the Rockets finished fifth in the Western Conference.
The twins are now the first brothers in NBA history to each receive a deal worth at least $100 million, with their contracts worth a combined $363 million.
They join two other members of the 2023 NBA Draft class to sign rookie-scale extensions, with Victor Wembanyama and Keyonte George already agreeing to new deals.
Wembanyama signed a five-year, $252 million extension, while George agreed to a $157.5 million deal.
Amen Thompson has landed a huge new deal with Houston as the rising star continues to establish himself as a key piece of the Rockets’ future.Source: AP
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DUREN’S $200M STAND-OFF TAKES NEW TWIST AFTER TEAMMATE DEAL
Jalen Duren’s seemingly never-ending contract saga continues to drag on.
The All-NBA Third Team member has reportedly ‘not accepted’ the Detroit Pistons’ latest offer of five years, $200 million (A$280m), according to ESPN.
And according to The Athletic, the recent deals signed by Ausar and Amen Thompson have added another layer to Duren’s negotiations.
“Detroit inking Thompson to a five-year, $155 million deal, which will begin paying him an average annual value of $31 million, added a layer to Duren’s contract negotiations,” The Athletic reported.
“As did Thompson’s twin brother Amen, who agreed to sign a five-year, $208 million contract to stay with the Houston Rockets earlier this month.
The Pistons face a major decision over Jalen Duren as the big man searches for a new deal following an All-NBA season.Source: Getty Images
“While Amen Thompson was a Defensive Player of the Year finalist, neither Thompson twin earned an All-Star or All-NBA selection last season, while Duren got the nod on both.”
It is also believed the potential market for Duren next season is another factor in the process.
Alongside the Pistons, the Sacramento Kings and Milwaukee Bucks are among the teams expected to show interest in Duren and could be willing to pay the money he is looking for.
“Duren’s confidence is born out of the fact that his market for next summer looks quite robust,” Sam Amick reported.
“As The Athletic previously reported, the Sacramento Kings have signalled a willingness to pay him a max salary deal next summer.
“That alone has aided his leverage, but there are at least two other teams – including the Milwaukee Bucks – that are known to have serious interest in Duren (both now and, potentially, next summer).”
Jalen Duren’s contract stand-off with the Pistons continues as rival teams reportedly circle the All-NBA big man.Source: AFP
Brett Siegel of Clutch Points has suggested a trade idea which could work for both the Pistons and Bucks.
“At this point, if Duren won’t take the $40M annually on the table, send him to Milwaukee for Myles Turner and other assets,” Siegel wrote on X.
“It’s clear he doesn’t want to be in Detroit.”
For now, Duren remains a restricted free agent with the start of the season drawing closer.
After finishing as the first seed in last season’s Eastern Conference, the Pistons will be eager to bring Duren back to a core which includes Cade Cunningham and Ausar Thompson.
BATUM RETIRES FROM THE NBA
Nicolas Batum has retired from the NBA after 18 seasons.
Batum announced his retirement in a video on social media alongside his son.
“I decided to retire from basketball for several reasons,” Batum told his 10-year-old son, Ayden, in the video.
“I want to come home and be with you. I’m going to take care of you and make room for others. I think I’ve done my time.
Nicolas Batum has called time on his NBA career after 18 seasons, announcing his retirement in an emotional video alongside his son.Source: AP
“My time with France ended two years ago. And the NBA is over too.
“You know, when you’ve played as much basketball as I have, at some point, you have to know when to stop... I’ve done everything I needed to do.”
Batum, 37, played for the Portland Trail Blazers, Charlotte Hornets, Los Angeles Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers across his 18 seasons.
He appeared in more than 1,250 NBA games during his career after being selected with the 25th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft.
Nicolas Batum represented France across a decorated international career, winning multiple Olympic medals before retiring from international basketball in 2024.Source: Getty Images
Batum finished with career averages of 9.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and three assists per game, with his best season coming in 2016-17 when he averaged 15.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.9 assists for the Hornets.
His retirement leaves Brook Lopez as the only player from the 2008 NBA Draft class still in the league, a class which saw Derrick Rose selected with the first overall pick.