The Detroit Pistons have found themselves in a statistically improbable position in recent years, holding the No. 5 overall selection at the NBA Draft in 2022, 2023, and 2024. 2022 selection Jaden Ivey and 2024 pick Ron Holland II have already shown clear signs of offensive potential.
2023 addition Ausar Thompson, meanwhile, has taken steps toward solidifying his status as one of the best young defenders in the NBA—but he'll need to stabilize his jump shot to truly prove it.
Thompson, 22, has quickly emerged as a force of nature on the defensive end of the floor. He averaged 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks per 36 minutes as a rookie, and posted marks of 2.7 steals and 1.1 blocks on that same basis during his sophomore campaign.
Unfortunately, Thompson went from playing 25.1 minutes per game in 2023-24 to 22.5 in 2024-25, thus suggesting head coach J.B. Bickerstaff needs to see more from the promising up-and-comer.
If that proves to be the case, then it's clear what's missing from Thompson's game. He's an intelligent, efficient, and even decisive player, but his below-average jumper has unfortunately turned sound shot selection into as much of a limitation as it is a strength.
Thankfully, Thompson can erase any concerns over how many minutes can be made available to him, thus improving his All-Defense odds, by strengthening his jumper.
Ausar Thompson is a reliable jumper away from stardom
Thompson finished the 2024-25 season with averages of 10.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.9 offensive boards, 2.3 assists, 1.7 steals, and 0.7 blocks in 22.5 minutes per game. That translates to 16.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.0 offensive boards, 3.6 assists, 2.7 steals, and 1.1 blocks per 36 minutes.
Thompson also shot 53.5 percent from the field and compiled an eFG% of .547, which puts him slightly above the league average of .543.
Unfortunately, Thompson also shot 22.4 percent from beyond the arc and 64.1 percent at the free-throw line. Those two numbers epitomize the concern over how realistic it is to believe that he can develop into the type of two-way player Detroit needs him to be.
Thankfully, Thompson has already begun to improve his shot, increasing his three-point field goal percentage by 3.8 percent and his free-throw mark by 4.4 percent between 2023-24 and 2024-25.
There's also something to be said for a player who knows their weaknesses, and thus plays to their strengths. Thompson, for instance, attempted just 0.8 three-point field goals per game—down from 1.8 as a rookie.
One simply can't help but question if the Pistons will be able to play him heavier minutes during the playoffs if opposing defenses find a way to treat possessions as though it's 4-on-5.
The promising news is that Thompson has displayed early signs of progress and is coming off of a postseason during which he defended All-NBA point guard Jalen Brunson for more than 29 game minutes. He's also both crafty and explosive around the rim, shooting 49.2 percent on drives.
If Thompson is going to follow in his brother's footsteps as an All-Defense honoree, however, then improving his offensive game to secure more playing time will be essential.