Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff on Ausar Thompson’s career-high seven steals
Ausar Thompson had a career-high seven steals in the Pistons’ 115-101 victory over the Warriors.
Detroit — Tobias Harris has fond memories of his time playing alongside his former teammate, Avery Bradley.
They played together for nearly two seasons, starting in 2017 when the Detroit Pistons acquired Bradley in a trade from the Boston Celtics. Later, both Harris and Bradley were involved in a deal that brought Blake Griffin to the Pistons from the Los Angeles Clippers.
Whether in Detroit or Los Angeles, Harris watched nightly as Bradley showcased what made him one of the best perimeter defenders in the league. Nearly a decade later, Harris finds himself observing another defensive juggernaut in Ausar Thompson.
In the Pistons’ 115-101 win against the Golden State Warriors on Friday night, Harris watched as Thompson posted a career high in steals with seven. His performance was another testament to how Thompson has established himself as arguably the best defensive player Harris has played with throughout his 15-year career.
“His reflexes and anticipation skills are great, especially for somebody whose size matches their athletic ability,” Harris said. “What he is capable of doing, recovering on plays, is huge for us. What he presents out there, especially when he is really focused on the task, he is a game-changer for us on the defensive end.”
Thompson credited his career performance to the countless game films he watches to improve his defensive play, a tactic he adopted after the Pistons’ playoff elimination by the New York Knicks last season.
It gave Thompson a chance to learn from several missed opportunities during his time defending Knicks star guard Jalen Brunson through the offseason. The results led him to make significant improvements in his defensive production in his third year.
“He is elite, and it is impressive,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “We always want to talk about points, but what I want people to understand is that what he does on a night-in and night-out basis is extremely difficult; it is not easy. He is one of the best in the business at it.”
Apart from a performance where he was benched during the Pistons’ 114-103 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Feb. 23, this season has been a breakout year for Thompson. He has become a central figure in Detroit, contributing significantly to the team’s status as Eastern Conference contenders and playing a key role in the Pistons’ assembling the league’s second-best defense.
If he can remain healthy for the final 11 games, Thompson is likely to be a top candidate for selection to an All-NBA Defensive team. He has played 61 games so far and is approaching the league’s 65-game requirement.
He is the only forward in the league this season to record over 100 steals (118) and 50 blocks (53), demonstrating his defensive versatility at the helm of the Pistons’ gritty defense.
“It’s amazing how disruptive he can be. He can single-handedly eliminate guys, and single-handedly create chaos on that end of the floor,” Bickerstaff said. “He creates confusion where it appears that he can be six places at once. He can block shots and steal the ball. He can frustrate guys because he can pick them up full court, and they can’t get around him.”
Thompson’s transformation into the premier defender is a testament to his individual work and the aspirations he developed by watching some of the league’s best two-way players while growing up in the Bay Area. He watched a number of his favorite players, including Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Kawhi Leonard, who all instilled in him a desire to become the best defensive player he could be.
At that time, his focus on defense was honed through one-on-one battles with his twin brother, Amen Thompson. The battles with his brother laid the groundwork for how Thompson has played a significant role in transforming the Pistons into one of the league’s most respected defensive teams. As a result, Harris already has considered him one of the best defensive players he has played alongside during his near two-decade long career.
“Seven steals in (Friday’s) game, he has to keep it going,” Harris said. “For him, now, it is all about consistency; just keep building to not only finish the regular season strong, but also be ready for the postseason.”
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