The NBA named the All-Defensive teams for the 2025-2026 season on May 22, with Detroit Pistons forward Ausar Thompson earning First Team honors. Thompson ranked highly in voting, receiving 72 first-place votes and 22 second-place votes, totaling 166 points, and finished behind only Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama.
Thompson shares the First Team with Victor Wembanyama, Chet Holmgren, Rudy Gobert, and Derrick White. The Second Team includes Scottie Barnes, Cason Wallace, Bam Adebayo, OG Anunoby, and Dyson Daniels. In his third Pistons season, Thompson played a career-high 73 games, averaging 26.0 minutes, 2.0 steals per game (league-leading), and nearly 1.0 blocks per game, signaling his strong defensive impact and a potential Defensive Player of the Year candidacy.
Looking ahead, Thompson is entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2026-27 and is expected to discuss a contract extension with the Pistons. His rising status as a top defensive player positions him for a significant extension or a strong restricted free-agent bid if an extension isn’t reached. Since being drafted fifth overall in 2023, Thompson has progressed from health-related setbacks to becoming a cornerstone defender for Detroit, with career averages around 9.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.6 steals, and near 1.0 blocks per game across 195 games.
Key Takeaways:
– Ausar Thompson earns First Team All-Defensive honors for 2025-26 with 166 points.
– Defensive strengths: league-leading 2.0 steals per game and close to 1.0 blocks per game.
– Contract outlook: potential extension with the Pistons in the 2026 offseason or restricted free agency next summer.
– Career arc: rising defender since being drafted fifth overall in 2023, overcoming early health hurdles to become a defensive pillar for Detroit.
