Ausar Thompson

Thompson led the entire league in steals per game at 2.0 in 2025-26, ranked second in deflections at 4.3, third in total steals with 146, and finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting. He was named All-Defensive First Team — the first Detroit player to manage it since Ben Wallace in 2005-06, which is the comparison that matters at that franchise. The offensive line stayed modest at 9.9 points in 26.0 minutes across 73 games. He was the fifth pick in 2023 and has become, very quickly, one of the few wings a coach can assign to any perimeter player on the floor. The offence will decide his ceiling; the defence has already decided he belongs.