Ausar Thompson Lands Monster Deal After Breakout Season With Pistons
As the start of training camp inches closer, the Detroit Pistons locked in a key piece after agreeing to a five-year, $155 million rookie scale extension with forward Ausar Thompson.
Thompson has quickly become part of the core group, coming off a promising 2025-26 season in which he made first-team All-Defense and finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
The 23-year-old averaged 9.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 0.9 blocks while shooting 52.5 percent from the floor. He led the league with 2.0 steals, while he had the third-most combined blocks and steals last season.
Thompson is currently one of three players recording at least 300 steals and 150 blocks since joining the league in the 2023 NBA Draft. In the playoffs, he averaged 8.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.8 blocks, making him the first player with at least 25 steals and 25 blocks in a postseason since Anthony Davis in 2020.
The new contract also made him and Amen Thompson the first brothers to each earn $100 million NBA deals. Amen inked a five-year, $208 million rookie extension with the Houston Rockets earlier this offseason.
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The Pistons have spent the offseason securing their core group, beginning with the retention of All-Star big man Jalen Duren. Detroit is currently offering him a five-year deal that would pay him in the range of $35 million annually.
Duren is pushing for an average annual salary of more than $40 million, which is pushing both sides into a stalemate. It is likely a matter of time before the two sides agree to terms on a new deal before training camp begins later this month.
