The Detroit Pistons rewarded defensive specialist Ausar Thompson with a five-year, $155-million rookie-scale extension, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania.
Thompson finished the 2025-26 campaign with a league high two steals per game and finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting behind unanimous winner Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren. Thompson also earned an All-Defensive first-team selection.
The 23-year-old averaged 9.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.1 assists on 52.5% shooting in 73 regular-season contests.
Thompson has emerged as a vital part of Detroit's impressive young core alongside Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren, and he was integral to the Pistons finishing the regular season with the league's second-best defensive rating (109.7).
The Pistons took Thompson with the fifth overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, one spot behind his twin brother, Amen.
