According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Detroit Pistons rookie Ausar Thompson will be sidelined for the remainder of the season due to a blood clot. Thompson has not appeared in a game since Detroit’s 124-142 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on March 9. On the season, the 21-year-old played in 63 games and started 38 of them. In those games, Thompson averaged 8.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. Furthermore, Detroit also announced center/power forward Isaiah Stewart will miss the rest of the season for the Pistons due to a right hamstring injury. The 22-year-old averaged 10.9 points and 6.6 rebounds per game in 46 games played.
The 12-56 Pistons currently own the second-worst record in the league and are not in playoff contention.
Breaking News: Detroit Pistons Lose Duo for Rest of Season
What Ausar Thompson’s Absence Means for the Pistons
The Pistons selected Thompson with the fifth pick during last year’s NBA Draft. Throughout the season, the California native showcased his potential. Most notably, Thompson’s athleticism and general defense made him effective throughout his rookie year. Although there is still room for improvement for the forward, the team clearly has high hopes for him, considering him untouchable during the 2024 NBA Trade Deadline.
For the last month of his season, Thompson had been Detroit’s starting small forward. In his absence, the Pistons have inserted Simone Fontecchio into the starting lineup. For the remainder of the season, it is likely Fontecchio will be utilized more heavily to replace Thompson. Furthermore, the Pistons will likely rely on wings Evan Fournier and Jaden Ivey.
The Pistons Will Also Miss Isaiah Stewart
This season was a wild one for Stewart. In February, Stewart was arrested and received a three-game suspension from the league for an off-court altercation with Drew Eubanks of the Phoenix Suns. Furthermore, Stewart missed multiple games just before his suspension due to an ankle injury. However, despite this, Stewart was effective for the Pistons. With Detroit this season, the New York native was a good rebounder and defender. Plus, his perimeter scoring was a career-best for Stewart this season. In his absence, Detroit may give big man James Wiseman more minutes. Furthermore, it will be interesting to see if forward Troy Brown Jr. becomes a more consistent piece of the team’s rotation from here on out.
The Last Word on the Detroit Pistons
Although the Pistons will not be in the postseason this year, losing Stewart and Thompson for the rest of the season is a big blow. However, the team should be excited for Thompson’s return next season. The forward showed lots of promise and will likely be a part of the team’s main core for the future. As for Stewart, the four-year Pistons big should have a role with Detroit once he returns from his injury. With 14 games remaining this season, it will be interesting to see if the team can finish strong.
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