The biggest question hanging over the Detroit Pistons is who will emerge as the second All-Star level player next to Cade Cunningham, and so far, the answer has been Ausar Thompson.
It’s too early to anoint Ausar after three games, but he’s been unbelievable on both sides of the ball so far this season, even with his shaky jump shot.
Thompson has averaged 17 points, 7.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game (with just one turnover) while shooting nearly 53 percent from the field.
He’s far more aggressive on the offensive end than he was last season and is averaging nearly five more shot attempts per game. Thompson was often tentative and sloppy with the ball last season, but that has not been the case so far in this one, as he is looking to score when he gets the ball.
Thompson’s defense is All-Defensive team caliber already, and there is a good shot he takes home that honor this season as long as he can stay healthy. Once that mid-range jumper gets a little more reliable, Thompson is going to be a handful, as he is already dynamic and explosive around the rim, and if he ever starts hitting 3-point shots, look out.
Even if he doesn’t, Thompson finds ways to score, as we saw last night against the Celtics, when he got it done in a variety of ways.
Ausar Thompson’s 3-point shot doesn’t matter at all
Thompson has been attacking the rim with a ferocity that he didn’t show consistently last season, especially off kick outs, as he did several times last night against the Celtics.
But he also showed some of the other weapons in his scoring arsenal. Thompson pulled down five offensive rebounds last night, two of them late in the game and both leading to buckets. He’s so athletic around the rim, this is definitely a weapon for him, and putbacks are high-efficiency shots.
And when you are around the rim, you get fouled, which is what happened last night, with Thompson getting to the line for eight free throws and making seven of them. I am not ready to declare him a good free-throw shooter, as it’s an area he’s got to improve, but the fact that he’s getting there is a good sign.
It's something we should continue to see more of as he becomes more and more comfortable handling the ball and getting to the rack.
The Pistons may have a true two-way star on their hands, as Thompson is already one of the best perimeter defenders in the league.
He’s raising the ceiling of what the Pistons can be and may make it unnecessary for them to look elsewhere for a second star.