Ausar Thompson can't shoot. Love or hate the rest of his game, he shot 6-of-24 from beyond the arc in 73 appearances in 2025-26, and buried just 57.1 percent of his free throws. For most teams, that would be a dealbreaker in regard to fully guaranteed money and a long-term extension. The Detroit Pistons aren't most teams.
According to Shams Charania of ESPN, Thompson has signed a fully guaranteed five-year, $155 million contract extension that will keep him in the Motor City through 2032.
"Just in: Detroit Pistons All-Defensive forward Ausar Thompson has reached agreement on a five-year, $155 million rookie-scale contract extension, sources tell ESPN."
It's an undoubtedly risky move by a Pistons franchise that still has to decide on the ideal contract for Jalen Duren—and runs the risk of the All-NBA center accepting his qualifying offer. Moreover, Detroit is in danger of the Thompson deal proving to be an overpay due to his offensive limitations.
If that proves to be the case, then the Cade Cunningham era could hit a wall—and the Pistons could struggle to build around him with such a costly salary on their payroll.
The Pistons don't seem too worried about that scenario taking hold. Whether or not they have faith in Thompson's jump shot coming along, they value what he brings to the table in the present and appear to see a path toward even greater contributions moving forward.
It's the latest example of the Pistons proving that not every team needs to play the same way in order to be successful in the modern NBA.
Pistons give Ausar Thompson fully guaranteed extension despite shooting woes
In 2025-26, Detroit won 60 games and its first postseason series in 18 years. It did so by doubling down on defense as its identity, with a raw and physical style of play that overwhelmed opponents and brought them within a Game 7 loss of the Conference Finals.
Rather than shying away from the strategy that worked in 2025-26, the Pistons are embracing how unique and important Thompson is—even if his lack of a jumper doesn't fit the modern era on paper.
Thompson finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2025-26. He earned his spot by leading the NBA in steals, blocking 1.3 shots per 36 minutes, and managing to disrupt opposing teams' offensive strategies in virtually every phase of the game.
According to Basketball Index, Thompson ranked in the 99th percentile in perimeter isolation defense, ball screen navigation, and off-ball chaser defense, the 83rd percentile in rim deterrence, and the 81st percentile in rim protection and rim disruption.
Rather than limiting Thompson to what he can't do, the Pistons are thus focusing on how dynamic he is on defense. Having added a flurry of shooters earlier in the offseason, including NBA champion Isaiah Joe, Detroit appears confident in how it can complement Thompson—and how he will play an essential role in helping others.
The Pistons clearly need Thompson to define his offensive identity, but their faith in what he already does is proof that they aren't scared of modern standards. They're redefining them.
Add us as a preferred source on Google