Detroit Pistons fans are understandably counting down the days before the 2025-26 season starts. Cade Cunningham has been looking like an MVP candidate in the preseason, the team is healthy, and the weak Eastern Conference is looking ripe for the taking. One of the big reasons giving the fanbase hope is Ausar Thompson and his endless potential. Unfortunately, however, one of his biggest weaknesses has been on full display all preseason, and especially on Tuesday against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Pistons put up a decent fight for three quarters against the Cavs without Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, or Caris LeVert. This gave Thompson ample opportunity to handle the ball and make plays for himself and others. While he finished the game with a decent stat line of nine points, five rebounds, four assists, a steal, and a block on 4/7 shooting from the field in 24 minutes, his free-throw shooting was once again a major concern.
Ausar Thompson's Free Throw Struggles Are Becoming a Major Problem
Making only one of his attempts from the charity stripe, the 22-year-old is now shooting 41.2% from the free-throw line in the preseason. In his first two seasons in the NBA, Thompson shot 62.1% from the line, a very poor mark for a perimeter player.
Season | Free-Throws Made | Free-Throws Attempted | Free-Throw % |
|---|---|---|---|
2023-24 | 71 | 119 | 59.7% |
2024-25 | 91 | 142 | 64.1% |
2025 Preseason | 7 | 17 | 41.2% |
While it is positive that Thompson has been getting to the line a ton through three games, attempting 17 free throws, not making them could make him a big liability for the team. It could even create situations where this is targeted by other teams in intentional fouling situations to get Thompson off the court.
Thompson is a physical player who likes to play through contact. This was made evident by his six fouls in 24 minutes of action on Tuesday. It also means that he will get fouled a ton on the other end of the floor. If he can't make the most of those chances, his offensive ceiling will always remain limited.
Too much focus has been placed on Thompson's outside shooting. While that is obviously a weakness, the inability to shoot three-pointers is less of an issue if you have the ball in your hands. And it sounds like Thompson will have the ball in his hands quite a bit this season. If he can't make his shots at the line, that could be a bigger issue than his lack of three-point shooting.
Thompson is a hard worker and one of the most athletic players in the NBA. Pistons fans should feel confident in his desire to improve in this aspect of his game. Being a more reliable free-throw shooter will make Thompson a more reliable two-way player and significantly increase Detroit's chances of being a contender in the Eastern Conference.