Last season, Detroit Pistons forward Ausar Thompson took a big leap forward development-wise in his second year as a pro, and the versatile defensive specialist has since put the league on notice, including Oklahoma City guard / forward Jalen Williams.
During an interview after the season wrapped up, one that saw Williams help guide the Thunder to the NBA Championship, the pivotal combo wing player spoke about what he noticed out of Thompson.
“Oh, them two?” Williams asked on the Out The Mud podcast. “They are gonna unlock some other **** though because their athleticism is ridiculous. The Thompson twins are a good one. The Thompson twins are special. They [are] like that.”
Williams and Thompson only saw each other once last season, but it was enough to leave a lasting impression on the former. During the April 2 contest, Williams had a solid offensive output with 23 points, five rebounds and three assists. During the game, Thompson spread his defensive duties around and was rarely assigned to Williams, and it sounds like that’s the way the young Thunder swingman likes it.