Detroit Pistons: 4 things to look for in the Summer League
#2: Playmaking and back cuts from Ausar Thompson
Fans will be excited to get a first glimpse of Ausar Thompson, the 5th pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.
We’ve heard all about his elite athleticism and defense, but fellow rookie Marcus Sasser brought up other attributes when asked recently about Thompson, concluding that the “hype is real.”
He mentioned Thompson’s high basketball IQ and ability to make plays with his passing. He also talked about his back cuts and overall awareness on the court. I think fans are going to be surprised that Thompson is a much better playmaker than advertised, as he always took a backseat to his brother Amen in that department.
But he averaged over six assists per game this past season, can be a good connector in the half court, or a guy who can draw defenses off the bounce and dump it off to teammates. Don’t be surprised if we see him bringing the ball up the court at times and acting as the primary playmaker in the half court.
People have been hyper focused on Thompson’s 3-point shooting but ignoring that he is actually a dynamic offensive player who can do more than just stand in the corner or dunk in transition. I expect we’ll see some of that playmaking in the Summer League, as well as him taking advantage of Ivey’s gravity with cuts to the rim.