It’s no surprise that the 2023 NBA rookie class is considered one of the best drafts in NBA history due to how stacked it was at the top and how much depth was in the class overall. You have your generational prospect in Victor Wembanyama and other potential star prospects, but one rookie that has looked like one of the best defenders not only in the rookie class, but the entire NBA is Ausar Thompson of the Detroit Pistons.
Thompson was the No. 5 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and was seen as someone who could be great in the the Pistons' fast style of play, while also bringing elite defense. To this point, Thompson has looked like a generational wing defender as he has consistently made great plays defensively that we don’t typically see from young rookies this early into the season.
The 6-foot-6 wing is averaging 1.8 blocks and 1.3 steals per game in nine contests played this season. Thompson is currently sixth in the NBA in stocks per game which is a stat that combines steals and blocks which showcases how great that certain player is at being a defensive playmaker. Thompson is an elite in that respect and that showed in the game he played against the Phoenix Suns last week.
In that matchup, the defensive stud had four steals and four blocks and was extremely close to a five-by-five game which has only happened four times in the last decade. The scary part about Thompson is that he hasn’t even played ten games and is already this advanced defensively. The ceiling he possesses defensively is off the charts and reminds many scouts of a young Kawhi Leonard.
The fit defensively on this Pistons roster is perfect, but now he still has to figure some things out offensively if he wants to reach stardom. The shooting is the biggest flaw in his game as he’s currently shooting 16.7% from deep on nearly three attempts per game.
With Cade Cunningham running the show offensively, it will be extremely vital that Thompson improves as a floor spacer as Cunningham needs as much room to operate with as possible. The Pistons are getting close to ending their rebuild process and with the addition of Thompson, and the future is extremely bright.
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