One of the biggest mistakes that coaching staffs make with developing players is simply waiting for said talent to grow into a role they haven't yet been assigned. Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff doesn't seem all that keen on making that mistake with Ausar Thompson.
Following a preseason outing that showcased Thompson's potential in a relatively new light on offense, Bickerstaff confirmed that he will give his rising star the in-game opportunities he needs to evolve as a player.
Thompson finished the Pistons' 109-107 preseason win over the Phoenix Suns with 10 points, two assists, two rebounds, three steals, and a block. Beyond the numbers, he was shifted into a role as a primary ball-handler at the start of the second half and helped Detroit erase an 18-point deficit by burying midrange jumpers, creating for his teammates, and showcasing the progress he's made.
During the post-game press conference, Bickerstaff was asked about the shift in ideology that spurned a strong second half and saw Thompson operate as a primary ball-handler.
“We obviously want Ausar to have the ball in his hands. We believe if he takes a jump, our team is going to take a jump. In order to do that, he’s got to get that exposure."
Bickerstaff continued:
"I just felt like we need to give him more of those opportunities. He's got to be the lead dog out there with the ball in his hands so he can continue to take those steps. But I thought he did a great job of it.”
There are no shortage of areas in which Thompson must improve on offense, but actually being given the chance to learn from experience should be of invaluable aid to his development.
J.B. Bickerstaff is letting Ausar Thompson learn by fire on offense
Thompson is already one of the most dominant defensive players in the NBA, as evidenced by his All-Defensive First Team nod in 2025-26. After signing a five-year, $155 million contract extension, however, even certifiably elite defense would leave Detroit needing more from him.
Thankfully, Bickerstaff understands that a part of Thompson developing the necessary skill level to thrive on offense is to actually let him learn through experience what's missing from his game.
In essence, the Pistons are trusting Thompson to learn by fire and gain perspective while committing mistakes. They're empowering him to run the offense as a playmaker and even as a scorer, with the demand for improvement from a skill perspective an understood rule for sustained chances.
Perhaps Thompson will fall short of those expectations, but the Pistons have now invested in him both on and off the court.
That's a promising sign for an offense that desperately needs to take pressure off of Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren as shot creators. There's a glaring lack of offensive consistency beyond Detroit's All-NBA duo, which makes Thompson developing into a high-level playmaker and respectable scorer an essential potential outcome.
With opportunities seemingly arriving to play with the ball in his hands, Thompson should have a chance to evolve not just behind the scenes, but in real time on the court.
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