Ausar Thompson has to watch brother Amen climb NBA Rookie Ladder
Ausar Thompson's rookie season for the Detroit Pistons saw its share of highs and lows.
Thompson had an electric start to the season, stuffing the stat sheet in ways rarely seen and doing it with exciting athleticism and defense that was exactly what the Detroit Pistons needed.
But a shooting slump and some questionable coaching decisions derailed what looked to be a guaranteed invitation to the All-Rookie team. Monty Williams started bringing Ausar off the bench, limited his minutes and couldn't figure out how to take advantage of his unique skills.
Thompson eventually started getting minutes again, was back in the starting lineup and was playing well before an illness knocked him out. It was then revealed that Thompson had blood clots, which was not news anyone expected to hear.
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Let's first of all hope that Thompson is ok and makes a full and safe recovery, as his health is the only thing that matters here.
His season was cut short in shocking fashion after only 63 games but his twin brother Amen plays on.
Ausar Thompson is out for the season, Amen Thompson playing meaningful games
It has to be tough for Ausar Thompson to lose what was left of his rookie season, especially given how it came about and how well he was playing at the time.
And it has to be even tougher when his twin brother is still playing meaningful games for the Houston Rockets, who have won 10 games in a row and are now just a game behind the Warriors for the final play-in spot with Amen as one of the main contributors. Amen had 25 points, 15 rebounds and four assists in a recent overtime win over the Thunder.
Amen Thompson climbed to 4th on the NBA Rookie Ladder, a spot that might have been destined for Ausar had he not gotten hurt. I am sure Ausar is happy for his brother on some level, but he's also a competitor who wishes he were the one playing a big role in a playoff race.
Hopefully, Ausar will get that chance next season with a full recovery and major improvement from the Pistons, but for now, he'll have to settle for living vicariously through his brother.
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