Pistons’ Monty Williams Defends Ausar Thompson’s Rising Stars Sub

Last weekend, the Detroit Pistons had two representatives in Indiana for the 2024 NBA All-Star festivities. While nobody on the team cracked the Eastern Conference roster for Sunday’s showcase, a young Pistons squad managed to get two players in the NBA Rising Stars game.

As happy as Monty Williams was for his young standouts, Jalen Duren and Jaden Ivey, he remained unhappy about Ausar Thomspon’s absence in the showcase.

When the Pistons returned to practice on Wednesday to prepare for their Thursday night road matchup against the Indiana Pacers, Williams was asked about the benefit of Duren and Ivey getting a chance to be around some of the league’s “best talent” while out in Indy.

Williams, quick to clap back, made it clear that Thompson’s absence was notable.

“Ausar wasn’t there, so it wasn’t the best talent,” Williams told reporters, according to Omari Sankofa of the Detroit Free Press.

Coming out of Overtime Elite as a two-time OTE Finals MVP, Thompson was one of the most notable prospects in the 2023 NBA Draft. With their fifth-overall pick, the Pistons took a chance on Thompson, who traveled an untraditional path to the NBA.

Throughout his rookie effort, Thompson appeared in 54 games with the Pistons, making 28 starts. By knocking down 49 percent of his shots from the field, Thompson has averaged nine points per game. In addition to his scoring, the rookie has averaged seven rebounds, two assists, and one steal per game.

How Did Pistons Players do in Rising Stars Challenge?

Thompson isn’t exactly putting together a Rookie of the Year campaign out in Detroit, but his development has been steady throughout the season. According to NBA.com and ESPN’s 2023-2024 rookie rankings, Thompson remains relevant in the top ten throughout his first NBA stretch.

While he wasn’t one of the league’s rookies to take part in the Rising Stars Challenge out in Indy, the former fifth-pick could have a case to join one of the rosters during his sophomore effort, following in the footsteps of Ivey and Duren.