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Omari Sankofa II: Trajan Langdon: “You’re going to see a different Ausar. He’s gotten bigger.” Referring to his frame, he’s filled out naturally and has been at the practice facility all summer.
Omari Sankofa II: Trajan on Ausar: "He’s been working his butt off. He’s been here, been back home, he’s been in the gym. The thing he wants to do at some point is be Defensive Player of the Year. He's working on his strength, which he couldn’t do last year." Also working on his shot, running PNR.
Daniel Blake: BREAKING: Been informed that talks are underway for @Raptors All-Star Scottie Barnes, @DetroitPistons centre Isaiah Stewart & @spurs guard Devin Vassell to join Jamaica’s growing basketball team. Twin brothers Amen & Ausar Thompson begun their passport process last week. @LAClippers star Norman Powell & @Timberwolves guard Josh Minott have already committed & will play in the FIBA World Cup Americas Pre-Qualifiers in August.
Daniel Blake: BREAKING: @Houston Rockets All-Defensive First Team star Amen Thompson & Ausar Thompson of the @Detroit Pistons are open to represent 🇯🇲 in future FIBA competitions & possibly the Olympics. The twin brothers, whose father is Jamaican, have begun the citizenship process.
Daniel Blake: CONFIRMED: Amen & Ausar Thompson say Jamaica is a legitimate option for their international future.
CONFIRMED: Amen & Ausar Thompson say Jamaica is a legitimate option for their international future. https://t.co/rHRuFcKJ5I pic.twitter.com/tLf9Ij5Pv6
— Daniel Blake (@DannyBeegie) May 25, 2025
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Omari Sankofa II: Trajan Langdon said there's still more to learn about the roster, when asked if it's time for a big swing. Mentioned Ausar Thompson not having an offseason while dealing with blood clots, Jalen Duren improving after the first 25 games, players getting healthy. "If those guys take steps, we get better."
Michael Scotto: Jalen Brunson on Ausar Thompson: “That dude was tough to play against. He’s big-time. I told him straight to his face after the series that he made me work. I’ve got a lot of respect for him.” pic.x.com/idnKH6nKvP
Jalen Brunson on Ausar Thompson: “That dude was tough to play against. He’s big-time. I told him straight to his face after the series that he made me work. I’ve got a lot of respect for him.” pic.twitter.com/idnKH6nKvP
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) May 2, 2025
For the most part, the Knicks have been able to minimize Jalen Brunson’s weaknesses on defense by having him camp out Detroit’s least dynamic players. So far, that’s meant matching up with Tim Hardaway Jr. and, to a lesser extent, Malik Beasley. But at the end of Game 5, Brunson rolled his ankle. I’ll be watching Game 6 to see if Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff targets Brunson by ramping up Hardaway’s role as a screener or by replacing him with someone who will make Brunson move his feet on defense. A lineup of Cade Cunningham, Dennis Schroder, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, and Jalen Duren lacks shooting, but it would force Brunson to either guard the ball (Schroder) or box out someone much bigger than him (Thompson). Either way, it could work in Detroit’s favor.
Omari Sankofa II: FINAL: Pistons 106, Knicks 103. The Pistons have starved off elimination and forced a game 6 in Detroit. Huge, huge, HUGE win at MSG. Led by 10 in the 3rd and held on. Cunningham: 24 pts, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals Thompson: 22 points (8-10 overall) 7 rebs, 2 blks
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Omari Sankofa II: Ausar on the pressure going into Game 5: "No pressure. We had nothing to lose." On if he can imagine the home energy in Game 6: "Nah. I’m super excited, tho. We’ve gotta get our fans a win for sure."
Omari Sankofa II: JB: "It all started with Ausar and his defense. He was phenomenal defensively tonight … a lot of credit should be given to him."
As the Detroit Pistons enter a new chapter with a retooled front office and fresh talent, Mahorn sees signs of real cohesion. “It seems that they have a togetherness about them,” said Mahorn. “It seems like the veteran leadership is very contagious with Tobias Harris, Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr. and then the rookies are responding with Ausar Thompson and Ron Holland.” “You gotta credit — it starts from the top. Trajon [Langdon] did a great job coming in his first GM year to hire a guy like J.B. Bickerstaff… His record has shown. Nobody gives him that type of credit from Houston and when he took over Cleveland. He has a pedigree with his dad, Bernie Bickerstaff. I’ve known him since he was a kid. And so to see his relationship with the players is more about making sure they’re on the right page.”
Stewart is holding opponents to 43% shooting in the paint as the closest defender, the second-best mark in the NBA. Teammate Ausar Thompson, who missed the start of the season while recovering from a blood clot, ranks second in the league in field goal percentage allowed and total steals since Jan. 1. "We know that even a lot of the older Pistons guys come to the game, they watch, they got our backs," Thompson tells ESPN. "I feel like we try to compliment them by kind of playing their style of ball. We don't necessarily have a thousand superstars on the team, so just everybody come in and do their piece, and everybody go as hard as possible and bring that Detroit energy."
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