Ausar Thompson is a freak of nature

Ausar Thompson is a freak of nature

The Detroit Pistons’ latest draftee, Ausar Thompson, has been on a mission to start his NBA career.

Despite the Detroit Pistons currently residing at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with a challenging 2-15 record entering Wednesday, there is optimism surrounding the team’s future. The Pistons are in a phase of growth, anchored by a promising young core spearheaded by young star Cade Cunningham.

In this transitional period, Ausar Thompson is rapidly constructing a compelling case for himself, showcasing early signs of a player destined for success in the league for years to come. As the Pistons nurture their young talent, Thompson’s contributions can be instrumental in laying the foundation for a brighter future for the franchise.

Thompson’s Contributions:

I understand that 17 games (at the time of this writing) is a small sample size to predict an entire career’s worth of production. Those 17 games for Ausar Thompson have been incredible; he’s averaging 11.4 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.7 blocks and 1.1 steals per game.

While he does not have the flashy scoring numbers some may gravitate towards, he’s becoming known as a defensive-minded anomaly right away.

Thompson told The Athletic that his defensive mindset comes from watching the NBA traditionally and forming a resentment for players who can score but can’t defend a stick.

“It’s good, gets you paid,” he said. “But it doesn’t win games. Well, it wins games, but at the end of the day, you want a two-way player. I liked Michael Jordan, Kobe [Bryant], [Scottie] Pippen, Kawhi [Leonard], and LeBron [James] … people who did it on both sides because I thought it correlated to championships. It didn’t just correlate to greatness. It also correlated to respect … from me.”

“Now that I’m older and I’m in the NBA, I want to be one of those players that younger me respected. To do that, you have to grind.”

While his offensive game is a work in progress, shooting 12.9 percent (4-31) from 3 entering Wednesday will not play in today’s NBA. Thompson can impact the game in other ways with his defensive versatility and physical gifts, which can be exactly what the Pistons need to turn their franchise around a “glue guy.”

Thompson’s Future

Speaking of “glue guys,” Draymond Green, who had made his hall-of-fame career as a defensive anomaly at 6-foot-6, has taken notice of Ausar Thompson’s game.

Despite Thompson’s contributions flying somewhat under the radar, Green recently praised the young player’s skills. Perhaps this lack of immediate attention is for the best, as it allows Thompson to develop organically without the pressure of heightened expectations if he were in a bigger market.

The Pistons would be wise not to rush the development of emerging talents like Thompson. Allowing his game to mature in the shadows of today’s NBA may hold the key to unlocking his full potential. When the time is right, and Thompson’s breakout occurs, it will undoubtedly be a sight to behold.

Detroit found triumph in constructing in-house championship teams. Like the Bad Boy and No Fly Zone Pistons of decades before. There’s a chance that this young core may follow in the footsteps of previous Pistons teams if the stars align. Detroit still has work to do but drafting Ausar Thompson is a step in the right direction.

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