Ausar Thompson of the Detroit Pistons has looked fantastic in NBA Summer League so far.
Summer League is filled with great players fighting to make it into the league. A lot of guys have motivation, and a lot of guys play hard. However, not everyone on the floor will be an NBA player, and quite a few will never make a rotation.
Summer League competition is much more intense than it used to be. When Tim Duncan played after being drafted, it was unusual for a first overall pick to attend Summer League. Today, the competition in the NBA is so fierce, the skill level so high, and draftees are often so raw, that Summer League is a necessary opportunity to develop.
That said, young players with guaranteed playing time next year are the most talented players on the floor, and there’s a bit more room to relax than in a regular season game, when the competition is higher and you’re playing for a record.
Ausar Thompson, as we saw against Toronto, hasn’t relaxed. He’s shown incredible defensive awareness, shifting over to block a shot when his teammate got knocked out of position. He hustled to get multiple rebounds in a possession, and he routinely clogged passing and driving lanes.
He’s looked, simply put, like a man among boys, which he might be. That might be what he was in Overtime Elite.
Does this mean his stellar play will translate to the regular season?
Detroit Pistons: Ausar Thompson’s impact
Ausar Thompson’s hustle won’t go anywhere. His intelligence, awareness, and work ethic are worth being excited about, and they’ll help him make the most of his opportunities to learn and develop at a steady pace.
That said, I expect setbacks. He should begin strong. He’ll be unknown in the league, and teams won’t have comprehensive scouting reports for how he plays within Detroit’s system, against NBA competition, and with veteran teammates.
Around the 20-25 game mark, teams and players will have a better idea of how to make him uncomfortable, how to force him to take less-desirable shots or get him out of rhythm. Once that happens, he’ll need to take another step in his development. He’ll be forced to expand his game and to utilize his athleticism against some of the fastest, strongest competition on the planet.
The NBA is never easy, but with time, patience, and the aid of teammates and a new coaching staff, the future looks bright for Ausar Thompson.