NBA Draft prospect Ausar Thompson could be a great fit with Indiana Pacers thanks to unique blend of athleticism and size
Ausar Thompson is one of the more fascinating top prospects in the 2023 NBA Draft.
The six-foot-seven-inch wing, who can also play as a guard, dominated in Overtime Elite play with the City Reapers. Per Proballers, he averaged 16.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game this past season.
What makes Thompson such a fascinating prospect is his unique combination of skills and traits. The 20-year old is extremely athletic, and that helps him shine both in transition and in halfcourt settings. He can finish plays and find his teammates in the open floor, so defenders have to stay in front of him.
His speed, and his handle, helps Thompson get around his matchup. He drives to the basket as often as he can, and he is a decent finisher at the rim. He isn't quite the shot creator that his twin brother Amen is, but he is still able to get defenses in rotation and make his team's offense more potent.
In general, his ability to read the game shines. On the ball, he is able to find his teammates with ease and knows then to add pressure. Off the ball, Ausar is a strong cutter. He projects to be an offensive boon in the NBA.
Where Ausar stands out compared to his brother is his three-point shooting. He worked on his shot and developed it this season in Overtime Elite, and he finished the year at 33.3% from long range. That isn't elite, or even above average. But it is far better than Amen, and it is just another weapon for Ausar to pair with his athleticism and speed. He should be able to punish poor closeouts in the NBA if opponents are scared to leave him open from deep.
That jumper raises Thompson's floor. If he can be an above average shooter in the pros, he will be extremely hard to guard for any team.
His defense is similar to his brothers. Ausar Thompson can stay in front of his man and slow down opposing wings. That alone is a draftable NBA skill. He pairs it with size and speed that allow him to be disruptive on the defensive end.
He struggles with something that Amen does as well — team defense. Ausar watches the ball a lot and tries to rely on his agility to recover when he is out of position or caught lacking. That won't work in the NBA when every player is bigger and faster and the offensive sets are more crisp.
One skill that separated the twin brothers is their shot creation abilities. Ausar can drive past defenders and is a good cutter, but he is not the creator Amen is. It isn't quite a weakness for Ausar, but that is a big difference in their games.
Ausar could be an interesting player for the Indiana Pacers to consider with the seventh overall pick. He has skill and upside, like every prospect, but his high end outcomes are extremely promising. He confirmed at the NBA Draft Combine that he had a meeting scheduled with Indiana.
His abilities in the open floor, which were displayed often in Overtime Elite's rapid play style, could fit well with the team's identity. His speed and athleticism would gel with the traits that the franchise hoped to acquire last summer, too.
Thompson's fit with Tyrese Haliburton is, on paper, strong. He is a decent outside shooter, and Haliburton creates easy looks for his teammates on seemingly every possession. Anyone with a threatening jumper is a good partner for Indiana's All-Star guard.
He also is an excellent slasher, and his athleticism allows him to finish plays above the rim. If Ausar has good special awareness at the NBA level, his cutting will shine next to Haliburton's creation abilities.
Ausar isn't a slouch on defense and has solid size on the wing. He has a seven-foot wingspan and can stay in front of his man. Indiana needs those skills. They are hoping for defensive improvement as a team in the near future.
Thompson provides a rare combination of size, shooting, and athleticism. That makes him a fit with every team, but especially the Pacers, who need wing-sized players. If he is still available at seventh overall, it wouldn't be shocking to see the blue and gold select the Overtime Elite product.
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