Pistons' Ausar Thompson Makes NBA All-Defensive First Team After Averaging 2.0 Steals
Updated
Updated · Detroit News · May 22
Pistons' Ausar Thompson Makes NBA All-Defensive First Team After Averaging 2.0 Steals
7 articles · Updated · Detroit News · May 22
Detroit forward Ausar Thompson was voted to the NBA's 2025-26 All-Defensive First Team, the biggest individual honor of his three-year career.
Thompson earned the spot by leading the league in steals at 2.0 per game across 73 games, finishing with 146 steals and 69 blocks.
The selection makes him the first Pistons player named to the All-Defensive First Team since Ben Wallace in 2006.
NBA Defensive Player of the Year Victor Wembanyama headlined the first team, with Thompson finishing third in that award race behind Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren.
He just matched a playoff feat by LeBron James. Is Ausar Thompson the next Pistons defensive legend?
Is Ausar Thompson's rise proof that one-way defensive specialists can still be franchise cornerstones?
How can the Pistons solve their offensive woes to make defensive anchor Ausar Thompson a champion?