The No. 5 pick a year ago, Ausar Thompson hasn’t set foot on an NBA court since last March, when a blood clot problem was discovered.
Thompson and the Pistons have been waiting for this news, and it came on Monday — Thompson has been cleared by the NBA’s Fitness to Play panel (consisting of three doctors) and can resume full basketball activities, the NBA and National Basketball Players Association announced (ESPN’s Shams Charania had the news first).
Thompson did conditioning and non-contact drills with the Pistons while he awaited clearance. Now, he can participate in full 5-on-5 workouts and step up for a return to the court.
Last season, the rookie Thompson was the Pistons’ best perimeter defender and averaged 8.8 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, but he had work to do on his jump shot (18.6% from 3 on nearly two attempts per game). He will join a Pistons team that is 4-7 on the young season and looks like it will be fighting for a play-in spot in the East.
Thompson is the twin brother of Amen Thompson of the Rockets, who was drafted one spot ahead of Ausar in the 2023 NBA Draft.
