Detroit Pistons second-year wing Ausar Thompson has been cleared to play by the NBA’s fitness-to-play panel after his rookie season ended early due to blood clots, according to multiple reports Monday. Thompson last played against the Dallas Mavericks on March 9, and will now begin his conditioning process to ultimately make his return.
During his rookie season, Thompson showed flashes of being a more than capable wing defender thanks to his 6-foot-7 frame and 7-foot wingspan. The 21-year-old started 38 of the 63 games he appeared in last season, averaging 8.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.1 steals in 25.1 minutes of action per game.
The Pistons enter Monday ranked eighth in opponents’ points per game, 12th in opponents’ 3-point percentage and ninth in opponents’ field goal percentage. Although Detroit is top-12 in each of those categories, Thompson’s impending return will be a welcome sign for its perimeter defense as a whole.
Through the first 11 games of the season the Pistons are 4-7 and host the Miami Heat at Little Caesars Arena on Tuesday for their first game of the 2024 NBA Cup.
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