NBA: Detroit Pistons at Indiana Pacers
NBA: Detroit Pistons at Indiana Pacers
At least one cornerstone has been locked up in Detroit. The Pistons have agreed to terms on a massive five-year, $155 million rookie-scale extension with Ausar Thompson.
Just in: Detroit Pistons All-Defensive forward Ausar Thompson has reached agreement on a five-year, $155 million rookie-scale contract extension, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/DZEgX4GpLS
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 18, 2026
Ausar joins his brother Amen (Houston Rockets) as the first pair of brothers in NBA history to each receive a $100 million deal, per Shams Charania. The two have signed for a total of $363 million this offseason. The $155M is fully guaranteed for the Pistons’ young forward.
Ausar Thompson lands $155M guaranteed from Pistons; Jalen Duren considers $9.6M
The 23-year-old Thompson averaged 9.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.1 assists last season, along with an NBA-leading 2.0 steals per game. He finished third in the league in ‘stocks’—steals plus blocks—at 215.
Thompson was All-NBA Defensive First Team, and finished third in the balloting for Defensive Player of the Year.
The deal comes as the Pistons are locked in a stalemate with another key piece of their future, center Jalen Duren. He has refused the team’s $190 million offer for five years, holding out for at least $200 million. He’s seriously considering taking the qualifying offer of $9.6M instead, which would leave $180M on the table. Wow.
Duren was a 19-and-10 rock in the regular season, and became a true star in the league, at just 22. But his disappearance in the playoffs could be the factor that’s holding up an agreement.
On the contrary, Thompson continued to be a beast in the postseason, averaging 8.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2 steals and 1.8 blocks. As Charania notes, he became the first player with 25 total steals and 25 total blocks in a postseason since Anthony Davis in 2020.
Ausar Thompson was the 5th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, right behind Amen at #4.