Fans of the Detroit Pistons may have been disappointed by missing out on Victor Wembanyama, but Ausar Thompson is already looking like more than just a consolation prize.
This is just Summer League of course, so you have to take everything in context, but Thompson immediately passes the eye test as a guy who just looks on a different level athletically than everyone else on the floor.
He’s quick, he’s fast, he can leap out of the gym, but he also looks incredibly smooth and under control, especially for a rookie.
Thompson led the Pistons’ comeback last night against the Raptors, at times singlehandedly keeping them in the game with his defense, energy and playmaking.
Although it was his defensive effort that stood out, his highlight reel from last night shows big-time potential on both ends of the floor.
Detroit Pistons: Ausar Thompson highlights show huge 2-way potential
You don’t have to watch Ausar Thompson long to know he has the chance to be special. He had four steals and two blocks last night, but also showed the immediate impact he can have on the offensive end as a rebounder, playmaker, finisher and even, gasp, shooter.
His highlight reel from last night doesn’t look much different from him dominating the competition in OTE:
Sights and scenes from AT pic.twitter.com/QEs3B8hl4S
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) July 13, 2023
In this one clip we see:
- Elite perimeter defense. Dick looked helpless at times
- Leading the fast break off a steal and finishing above the rim
- Rebound with a dime on the outlet pass that led to a bucket
- Simply outworking everyone on the offensive glass and then finishing through contact for the and one
- A pull-up mid-range jumper and a pull-up 3-pointer at the buzzer
- Shot blocking and clutch steals
And that’s not to mention all of the intangibles, as Ausar Thompson has great instincts and awareness on both ends, seems to always be in the right spot to make the right play and showed that he has a competitive spirit, leading his team back from 17 down and looking like he refused to lose the game even though it is ultimately meaningless.
I don’t know about you, but I am pretty excited by what I’ve seen so far and a lot of the questions we had about Thompson are already being answered. The Pistons may have an idea of what their starting lineup will look like next season, but Thompson is making his case to be in it.