The Detroit Pistons and forward Ausar Thompson agreed to a five-year, $155 million extension on Friday, according to multiple media reports.
The fully guaranteed deal will begin with the 2027-28 season, according to The Athletic. Thompson was entering the final season of the rookie contract he signed after Detroit selected him fifth overall in the 2023 NBA draft.
Still just 23 years old, Thompson is already widely regarded as one of the league’s top defenders. He earned NBA All-Defensive first-team honors last season, becoming the first Pistons player to do so since Ben Wallace in 2005-06. Thompson also finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting, behind winner Victor Wembanyama and runner-up Chet Holmgren.
In 73 games during the 2025-26 regular season, Thompson averaged 9.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2 steals and 0.9 blocks.
He added 8.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.8 blocks per game during Detroit’s 14-game run to the Eastern Conference semifinals. In doing so, he became the first player since Anthony Davis in 2020 to record at least 25 steals and 25 blocks in a single postseason.
Thompson and his twin, Houston Rockets forward Amen Thompson, are the first brothers in NBA history to each sign contracts worth at least $100 million.
–Field Level Media
