Pistons’ Ausar Thompson Sets Sights on Becoming NBA’s Best Defender

Second-year Pistons wing Ausar Thompson isn’t short on confidence when it comes to his defensive prowess. In a recent interview, the NBA rising star made his stance clear: he believes he’s already the best perimeter defender in the league — and he’s just getting started.

“I think I’m the best perimeter defender in the league. That’s what I believe,” Thompson said, via For The Win. “I don’t think I’m a finished product, though. I think I can get over screens better. I think I can be locked in at all times better. I want to be NBA Defensive Player of the Year.”

Thompson acknowledges that the award will be tough to win with Victor Wembanyama in the mix, citing the Spurs center’s shot-blocking dominance.

“It’s so hard with Wemby because he is going to get four blocks every game,” he added. “But it’s something that I think is possible.”

Should There Be a Separate NBA Award for Perimeter Defenders?

A growing conversation around NBA awards has been about whether defensive recognition should be split between perimeter players and big men. Jalen Williams of the Oklahoma City Thunder recently proposed the idea of having both a perimeter Defensive Player of the Year and a big DPOY, but Thompson is torn on the issue.

“At first, I didn’t like it,” he admitted. “But the more I think about it, they need to factor in how much a perimeter defender really runs around. Guarding the best perimeter player is a very tiring task.”

Dunk Contest in Thompson’s Future?

While Thompson is primarily focused on defense, he’s open to competing in the Dunk Contest — but admits he’d need to practice.

“I haven’t worked on a dunk in like three years. But once I get that back down, I’m ready,” he said.

With his elite athleticism and defensive mindset, Thompson is quickly carving out his place in the NBA — and he’s aiming for the league’s highest defensive honor.