Ausar Thompson news
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The gist
Pistons guard-forward Ausar Thompson scored a season-high 14 points in a 124-91 win over the Hornets.
Detroit is leaning on him as a creator while center Jalen Duren is out.
Background
Ausar Thompson is a Detroit Pistons guard-forward, a top-five pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and a 2025-26 Kia NBA All-Defensive First Team selection. His rookie season was interrupted by a blood clot diagnosis in March 2024, and he hurt the same right ankle that cost him five games in 2025-26. The Pistons began last season giving him floor-general duties before an ankle injury halted the plan; during this season's 5-1 start they have revived it, needing another creator next to Cade Cunningham with All-NBA center Jalen Duren sidelined by a hamstring strain.
How it unfolded
- Oct 23, 2026Thompson sprained his right ankle at the 6:37 mark of the third quarter trying to block a Wiggins layup in a 128-111 win over the Miami Heat and did not return.
- Oct 25, 2026He was listed questionable against the Philadelphia 76ers and missed the 106-93 win over Philadelphia because of the sprain.
- Oct 27, 2026The NBA's official injury report upgraded him to questionable for a road game against the New York Knicks.
- Oct 30, 2026He had 11 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two steals in a 110-94 NBA Cup win over the Brooklyn Nets, moving Detroit to 5-1 overall and 1-0 in Cup play.
- Nov 2, 2026Thompson scored a season-high 14 points with six rebounds, four assists and a block in 26 minutes in a 124-91 win over the Hornets.
- Nov 3, 2026RotoWire noted he had at least six rebounds and four assists in five of his first six appearances, attempting fewer than 10 field goals in every game.
Who’s saying what
- Player
- Thompson said that when teams play off him he has to attack right away rather than waiting until the team is down 28, because it makes opponents see him as a threat.
- Analysts
- PistonPowered's Maxwell Ogden wrote that Thompson has called himself out for being passive offensively, and that Detroit shouldn't trade for a shot creator until it can keep Thompson assertive on offense.
- Caution
- NBC Sports wrote that Thompson's role is safe and there is no need to worry about coach JB Bickerstaff taking away his minutes.
Still unverified
ESPN's Shams Charania reported Thompson is day-to-day, suggesting the Pistons are evaluating his availability game by game.