Ausar Thompson

Uniquely gifted and versatile in the amount of ways to potentially leave a stamp on his first-ever NBA appearance, Ausar Thompson, appropriately, selected the most fitting method of them all with the defending Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat on the schedule: defense. Requiring zero time pairing his otherworldly athleticism and defensive IQ into a collective mix, Thompson needed merely a quarter to justify the Detroit Pistons’ choice of taking him at No. 5 in the 2023 NBA Draft. A self-proclaimed “unicorn” on the less glamorous end, Thompson lived up to the nickname against Miami’s elite perimeter talent, navigating through off-ball screens and backdoor cuts on the way to three-block first quarter. Thompson also found time to highlight his offensive potential, draining an in-rhythm 3-pointer and coordinating Detroit’s offense as a facilitator in transition. The end result: immediate history as the NBA’s youngest-ever player to tally five blocks in their debut, along with four points, seven rebounds, three assists, and one 3-pointer in 26 minutes on October 25, 2023. Following the lead of his glue-tight defensive approach, Thompson kept his name closely connected to both the league’s historic leaderboards and All-Defensive Team discussions, particularly over his first month, providing the Motor City with a thrilling glimpse into what their future could present.

Three-Star Rookie