The Detroit Pistons success up to this point of the season has come as a result of nearly every player raising their level of play.
Cade Cunningham is playing on an MVP-level, Jalen Duren deserves to be the frontrunner for the Most Improved Player award and Tobias Harris has been the veteran anchor the team has desperately needed him to be.
And that's not even including the contributions from the supporting cast of players like Duncan Robinson, Ron Holland II, Isaiah Stewart and several other key contributors.
However, one player arguably deserves more credit than what he's given for the Pistons' success this season is third-year man Ausar Thompson.
Thanks to The Athletic's John Hollinger comments on a recent episode of the Zach Lowe Podcast, the former lottery pick is finally getting the praise he deserves in the area he impacts the game the most:
" I just think he's been electrifying when I see him," Hollinger said. "The athleticism, the energy, the toughness, the fact that Detroit's the No. 2 defense and I think he's been a huge factor in that... I think he's been fantastic and I actually think he's had a better defensive season than his brother [Amen Thompson] this year"
John Hollinger believes Ausar Thompson is an All-NBA Defender
The 23-year-old has been a steady prescence for Detroit this season, averaging 10.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists, while shooting 52.2% from field goal range.
Offensively, Thompson's numbers may not pop, but it's clear that the versatile forward's real calling card is on the defensive end.
Hollinger's quotes above stem from his argument for why Thompson deserves to be an All-NBA defender after Lowe seemingly snubbed him in his rankings.
The fact that a former Vice President of Basketball Operations like Hollinger speaks so highly of the Pistons rising star proves that while his game may not be talked about enough, his impact doesn't go unnoticed.
And for a fanbase who feels that Thompson isn't talked about enough, these comments should give them a sense of validation.
Moving forward, the defensive ace will have the chance to put his skillset on full display.
Thompson will be a key for the Pistons when the playoffs arrive
In nearly every sport, defense always wins championships, unless your're the 2024 Boston Celtics, but even then those Celtics played impressive defense.
For Detroit, there's several solid defenders on the roster, but there's no doubt that Thompson is J.B. Bickerstaff's go-to guy when it comes to defending multiple positions, especially the opposing team's top player.
When the postseason swings around, Thompson will have the chance to prove just how impactful he can be when the lights are brightest and if he's able to deliver, there's no way he won't get more of the praise Hollinger offers.