The Detroit Pistons organization and the fanbase have lofty expectations for Ausar Thompson. The combination of his size, athleticism, and ball skills makes him a unique young player with a very high ceiling. He has certainly taken exciting strides this season as a ball-handler and playmaker while continuing to be an elite defender, contributing to Detroit's 5-2 start as of Wednesday afternoon.
At the same time, there continues to be an alarming aspect of his game that can't be ignored. Thompson's shooting woes have been well-documented since coming into the league, but those have hit a new low this season.
Ausar Thompson's Shot Has Somehow Gotten Worse in 3rd Season
Thompson made only one of his six free-throw attempts against the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday, coming two days after he was 2-of-6 from the charity stripe against the Dallas Mavericks. For the season, he is shooting 46.7% from the free-throw line, a historically low number for anyone, let alone a perimeter player. After making over 60% of his free throws for his career heading into this season, this is certainly a concerning regression.
Naturally, his three-point shot hasn't been any better. He is 3-of-12 from downtown for the season, and this 25% mark is somehow his career-high. Per NBA.com tracking data, Thompson's shot diet couldn't be any more favorable. All of his three-point attempts have come from "wide open" looks, defined as the closest defender being more than six feet away. All of these shots were also of the catch-and-shoot variety, usually easier shots to hit than off-the-dribble, self-created looks.
This suggests that teams are leaving Thompson wide open and are daring him to shoot. He has largely not taken the bait as he is taking fewer than two threes per game. Yet, his lack of shooting has bigger ripple effects on the team's offense. When defenses aren't guarding Thompson, they are packing the paint, making it harder for Cade Cunningham and other creators to get good looks.
The Pistons already have plenty of poor shooters. When there are multiple non-shooters on the floor like Thompson, Jalen Duren, and Ron Holland, the spacing gets cramped, putting a ceiling on Detroit's offense.
Thompson has enough physical and athletic tools to still be a valuable offensive player. He is a menace in transition, can get to the rack, and can beast on offensive rebounds. He will also be one of the best perimeter defenders in the league for a long time. However, unless he can be a respectable shooter, his path to superstardom will be rocky, and the Pistons' ceiling will be limited.
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