Detroit Pistons forward Ausar Thompson has agreed to a five-year, $155 million rookie-scale contract extension, sources told ESPN. The fully guaranteed deal follows Thompson's breakout 2025-26 season where he made first-team All-Defense, finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting, and led the NBA in steals per game (2.0). The 23-year-old averaged 9.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 0.9 blocks.

Thompson recorded the third-most combined steals and blocks last season (215) and is one of three players with at least 300 steals and 150 blocks since being drafted No. 5 in 2023. In 14 playoff games during Detroit's run to the Eastern Conference semifinals, he averaged 8.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2 steals, and 1.8 blocks, becoming the first player since Anthony Davis in 2020 with at least 25 steals and 25 blocks in a postseason.

Thompson and his twin, Amen Thompson of the Houston Rockets, are the first brothers to each sign $100 million NBA deals. Amen recently agreed to a five-year, $208 million extension, totaling $363 million combined. Pistons president Trajan Langdon continues negotiations with restricted free agent Jalen Duren, with Detroit offering over $190 million. Thompson previously missed time due to a blood clot diagnosed in March 2024 but was cleared by the NBA's fitness-to-play panel eight months later.