Source: nbcsports.com
Detroit Pistons and Ausar Thompson have agreed on a fully guaranteed five-year contract extension worth $155 million.
Thompson is regarded as one of the NBA’s elite defenders, having earned a spot on the All-Defense First Team last season.
He averaged two steals per game, leading the league in that category, along with nearly one block per contest.
The Pistons view Thompson as a cornerstone for their future, and this contract represents a valuable investment.
However, the average annual salary of $31 million reflects a bet on Thompson’s offensive game making significant progress. Over three seasons in the league, he has attempted 186 three-pointers in regular-season play, converting just 38 (just over 20%). His free throw shooting has also been underwhelming, with a 271-for-452 (60%) success rate.
Ausar’s twin brother, Amen Thompson, signed a five-year, $208 million extension with the Houston Rockets this summer. The twins were selected consecutively in the 2023 NBA Draft: Amen was picked fourth overall by Houston, and Ausar went fifth to Detroit.
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