How Ausar Thompson Can Help Change Detroit's Culture
For whatever reason, Ausar Thompson has flown a bit under the radar since the 2023 draft.
Perhaps it's because his twin - Amen - was generally considered the better prospect. Perhaps it's because Scoot Henderson's future hinged on what happened with Damian Lillard in Portland. Perhaps it's because, well, Wembanyama just existing.
Or, perhaps more accurately, it's because he landed in Detroit.
The Pistons have an interesting, if not exciting, young nucleas, but they're coming off a year in which their main guy, Cade Cunningham, played just 12 games, and the team has very little buzz around them.
Whether that's fair or not is a debate for another day, but Thompson represents a legitimate upgrade to their backcourt, and I guess even their wing situation?
At 6-foot-7, and outright perversely athletic, Thompson projects as an incredible defender in a few years, and should be good on that end of the floor right off the bat.
He's a natural passer, unafraid to attack the paint, and should inject some energy into a team that often looks lifeless and stagnant on the court.
What could be holding Thompson back, at least right now, is the lack of a strong perimeter game. He's just not a reliable shooter yet, and as is the case with any player not in possession of a steady jumper, it means more questions than answers in the first few years of that player's career.
Therefore, we should brace ourselves for the inevitable event of Thompson's game being pulled apart more than it should, given just how important the element of spacing in today's league has become.
But, before we do so, allow me to plea with you.
In the particular case of the Thompson twins, which obviously includes Ausar, let's arm ourselves with a smidge more patience, and let's grow the ability to break apart offense and defense.
Even if Ausar enters his rookie season as a miserable long-range shooter, the ripple effect of his playing style isn't to be undersold. Any time you have a team with a large group of young players, the guy who busts his behind the most ends up being the tone setter.
This is the NBA, and not a single young player can afford to get outworked. Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Jalen Duren, Isaiah Stewart, and so on, all of them will feel the effects of going up against a workhorse in practice, and it will be contagious.
Thompson takes immense pride in locking up his opponents. He fights over screens, defends the hip, knows how to use his feet and arms, and will thus help the Pistons create something they've lacked for the better part of a decade: A culture.
By coming into a young, but frustrated, squad in need of SOMETHING to reignite their inner fire, Thompson has both the skill, energy, and willingness to do just that.
He might not hit 40% from long range, and he might finish his first year with an unimpressive offensive line. But if he can change the team's collective approach to defense, to betterment, and help shape the Pistons of tomorrow, it's worth it.
Unless noted otherwise, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball-Reference. All salary information via Spotrac. All odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.
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