Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James isn’t just one of the league’s greatest players, he’s one of its greatest fans. On Thursday, the NBA icon was true to form, taking to Instagram to shoutout Detroit Pistons rookie wing Ausar Thompson for a drive to the rim that went viral across social media platforms.
Ausar Thompson got the LeBron James co-sign on his Instagram story pic.twitter.com/GyxQQM7lmt
— nick (@nsitto2) March 8, 2024
LeBron James Co-Signs Special Play by Ausar Thompson
Constantly absorbing hoops content, the 39-year-old’s encyclopedic knowledge and eidetic memory are intertwined with his love of basketball. However, the Pistons aren’t the type of team that people normally tune-in to see. With a 10-52 record, what’s most notable about their season up to this point is a 28-game losing streak that nearly put them on the wrong side of NBA history.
Still, they’re a team with multiple lottery picks taking the court every night. Young players that they or other teams have drafted within the last four years. As a result, there’s been more interest than expected in the franchise. It’s not just about the product they’re putting on the floor this season but about their ability to unlock the potential of their ‘blue chip’ prospects.
One such player is Thompson, who blew past Brooklyn Nets wing Keita Bates-Diop on the perimeter then lost him completely with a tight crossover dribble before rising up just as quickly for a dunk. It was one of Detroit’s best plays on a night when they recorded their 10th win of the season.
Ausar making it look easy…#DetroitBasketball pic.twitter.com/5TuP9ZXZ2H
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) March 8, 2024
A generational athlete that’s receiving plenty of opportunity to make an impact, Thompson hasn’t necessarily had the chance to explore his game with the Pistons. Nonetheless, the 20-year-old is capable of making plays like the one that caught James’ eye on a nightly basis.
Ausar Thompson’s steady development
The fifth overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft out of the Overtime Elite program, Thompson has been an exemplary defender since Day Zero. A player that’s very conscious of how to use his physical profile to his advantage, he’s often seen suffocating ball-handlers, flying in for pass deflections and blocks. Though it’s easy to get carried away by his highlight plays, he has the makings of a perennial All-Defensive selection.
While his defense has been well regarded by all, he’s often the topic of conversation because of his poor 3-point percentage.
His touch and form have been a work in progress. Slow but steady progress. Not only is the rookie is shooting fewer of the line-drive variety 3s that were far too long or far too short, he’s also simply been knocking down more 3s in general. Shooting 18.9 percent from 3 for the season, he’s made 29.6 percent of his 3s since the All-Star Break.
To be fair, Thompson had shown the ability to knock down midrange shots that were in free-throw range. Modern NBA spacing concepts have evolved into 3-point proliferation. Nonetheless, having that reliable tool in his arsenal helped him make an impact on the scoreboard when the lane was too congested for him to get a shot off at the rim.
That said, Thompson shines brightest when he’s able to gather his dribble and elevate. He floats after he explodes off the ground. His combination of hangtime, elevation, and sheer strength that make him a constant threat to put players on posters. As he improves his ball-handling and matures physically, he should become a dominant slasher. However, he’s already a dangerous one.
Clyde Drexler 2.0
James offered his biggest co-sign of Thompson in late November, comparing him to Clyde Drexler.
Drexler, the 14th overall pick in the 1983 NBA Draft, was inducted in the Hall of Fame twice (2004, 2010). In 2004, Drexler was inducted for his individual accomplishments. In 2010, he was inducted as a member of the Redeem Team. A legendary figure in Portland Trail Blazers history, his all-around impact made him a 10-time All-Star.
If Thompson can match those accomplishments, suffice it to say, he had quite a career.
In comparing the two players skillsets, Thompson bears plenty of resemblance to Drexler. Though much of a 3-point shooter, Drexler could score from nearly everywhere else on the floor. He also was a potent playmaker, a skill that Thompson has demonstrated as well. Defensively, he had a knack for racking up blocks and steals. Consider that he has two games with 10 steals that happened 10 seasons apart. He was a man on a mission.
When Thompson takes the floor, the same dogged determination that Drexler displayed is seen in him.
