Ausar Thompson plays 9 of 12 in expanded early role

Bickerstaff promised more than 26 per game

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 2h1 min read

Notable early: J.B. Bickerstaff said a few weeks ago Ausar Thompson would get more than the 26 minutes per game he avera Via @Keith_Langlois on X

What happened: J.B. Bickerstaff said weeks ago Thompson would top last year's 26 minutes per game. Thompson played the opening nine minutes, sat the final three of the first quarter and returned to open the second.

Why it matters: Detroit secured Ausar Thompson with a September extension. A heavier workload would expand his on-ball creation and primary defensive assignments entering 2026-27.

By the numbers: Averaged 26 minutes per game last season; logged nine of 12 first-quarter minutes before returning for the second.

What to watch: Second-half rotations will show whether the larger first-quarter workload holds through preseason.

Sources

@Keith_Langlois 2026-10-20T19:42:03.139264+00:00

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