When an NBA rookie starts up their career by averaging a double-double over their first 14 games, while adding in 1.7 blocks, 1.2 steals, and 3.4 assists, that's usually a strong indicator that said rookie can play, and produce.
In Detroit, however, that production from Ausar Thompson wasn't rewarded with more minutes, or more responsibilities.
Instead, in the 27 games since, Thompson has played just 19.9 minutes per game, and started ten times. He hasn't grabbed over 10 boards in a game since Nov. 19.
While reasonable people can agree that Thompson's offensive skills are raw, and maybe even unpolished, no one should agree that a player in his first campaign, producing to the extent that he was, deserves to be given inconsistent minutes.
As has been the case a lot this year, it's time to once again point to head coach Monty Williams and ponder the question: What is his plan?
Most coaches who ask young players to sit do so to improve their focus, their defense, and their dedication to details, all of which are elements Thompson already has a firm grip on. How exactly does the rookie benefit from playing 11 minutes one night, eight the next, and then suddenly 20+, only to come back to 13 minutes in the following game?
(A scenario which played out between Jan. 3 and Jan. 9).
What makes the lack of playing even more curious is how Williams is known to preach defense. It's why he didn't play second-year guard Jaden Ivey for long stretches earlier in the year. What exactly is his excuse for Thompson?
The Pistons have made a mess of things. Williams clearly isn't working out on the sideline, and they've undermined their prized rookie's first season, which otherwise started off with a bang.
When the team missed out on Victor Wembanyama, it understandably hurt. But when Pistons fans saw the consolation prize of Thompson looking like an All-Defensive player, poised with an old man's game, encouragement and optimism started to develop.
Now the rookie isn't even receiving consistent minutes, and the Pistons are by far the league's worst team. They can't even dangle a carrot for their fans by giving development minutes to their most recent lottery pick?
It's time for the people at the top to intervene, and to make the coaching staff realize that trying to be competitive is a flat-out no-go at this point. Any minute not spent on player development is a wasted one, particularly when you have a young core also consisting of Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren. The future is now.
Unless noted otherwise, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball-Reference. All salary information via Spotrac. All odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.
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