Ausar Thompson Lands $155M Pistons Extension — SkimNews
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- Ausar Thompson agreed to a five-year, $155 million fully guaranteed rookie-scale extension with the Detroit Pistons after making first-team All-Defense and finishing third in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
- Thompson averaged 9.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 0.9 blocks in 2025-26 while leading the NBA in steals per game (2.0) and posting 215 steals — third-most in the league.
- In 14 playoff games during Detroit's run to the Eastern Conference semifinals, Thompson became the first player with at least 25 steals and 25 blocks in a postseason since Anthony Davis in 2020.
- Thompson and twin brother Amen Thompson of the Houston Rockets are now the first brothers to each receive a $100 million NBA deal, with combined extensions worth $363 million this offseason.
- Pistons president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon has been concurrently negotiating with restricted free agent Jalen Duren, offering more than $190 million since June, though both sides remain dug in.
- Thompson missed most of his sophomore season after being diagnosed with a blood clot in March 2024; he was cleared by the NBA's fitness-to-play panel eight months later and returned to action.
Why it matters: The $155M extension rewards Thompson's elite defensive production — he led the NBA in steals — while the Pistons remain stuck in a stalemate with Jalen Duren over offers north of $190M, signaling Detroit is willing to spend big to retain its young core. Ausar and twin Amen Thompson are now the first brothers to each clear $100M in the NBA.
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