Detroit Pistons: Ausar Thompson Is The ‘Complete Package’ After 5-Stock Performance

Last night, the Detroit Pistons found themselves in an unfamiliar position during the first half against Cleveland. Even with Isaiah Stewart back in the Detroit rotation, the Pistons were outworked for rebounds early on and lacked the defensive energy that the Motor City team staked its reputation on. 

After halftime, the Pistons regrouped with a turnover-heavy defensive effort led by Ausar Thompson, who repeatedly stole the ball on one end to spark a quick transition bucket on the other against the Cavs. Thompson finished the game with four steals and one block as the Pistons fought for a late comeback, but Cleveland was able to defend home court with a 113-109 victory for the Cavs. 

Despite the loss, Thompson laid out another clear example of why his case to make the NBA’s All-Defensive first team is as strong as any perimeter defender in the league. 

“He’s getting where he helps us most– all over the floor,” Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “Six assists, six rebounds, four steals, he’s the complete package for us on top of the 16 points. So, understanding how defenses are going to guard him where he can still be impactful, but that’s his game. He’s well-rounded. He does a lot that doesn’t always go into the stat sheet, but again, he’s elite at what he does and he’s just getting better and better.”

In his third season as a pro, Thompson has refined his game into that of a basketballing Swiss Army knife. With the ball in his hands, Thompson can push the pace or slow it down in the half-court for more controlled playmaking, though he’s still looking to add a reliable jumper to his arsenal, so he’s far from a finished product. 

This season, Thompson has connected on three-point looks at just over a 27% rate, which is far below the league average for what would even be considered a moderate perimeter shooter. As a result, Bickerstaff has opted to carefully dole out Thompson’s playing time in the latter stages of Detroit games in order to keep a healthy amount of dangerous shooters on the floor, but that preference may be shifting. 

After Thompson was benched during the third quarter against the San Antonio Spurs on Feb. 23, Bickerstaff went right back to his defensive stalwart with a 36-minute workload the very next game in the Pistons’ overtime victory versus Cleveland. If Thompson can continue to set up his teammates for open looks in the half-court while maintaining his knack for turnovers defensively, the dynamic two-way forward could serve as an indispensable asset for the Pistons in the postseason. 

Thompson has shown all the tools necessary to influence games on both ends of the court, but Detroit will need to rely on his ball handling even more during the playoffs when teams simply have less space to operate. Cade Cunningham is naturally going to draw significant attention from the opposing defense as they look to negate the All-Star’s on-ball opportunities, so Thompson has a clear opportunity to carve out his worth to the Pistons in stone. 

For more information on the latest Detroit Pistons team or player news, follow @EricJRutter on X for continued basketball coverage. Also be sure to look up Roundtable - Michigan Men Media on Facebook for continued social media coverage of all the sporting teams in the Mitten.