Ausar Thompson is DPOY next year

Defense is probably the toughest aspect of the game to measure on the court. However, the impact of an elite defender often leaves you unable to ignore it. With the increasing pace and switchability being preached in the league currently, Detroit Pistons forward Ausar Thompson has proven to be one of the most promising defensive talents in the league right now. This combination of elite athleticism, relentless energy, and impressive basketball instincts in Thompson has put him in position to be one of the NBA’s next Defensive Player of the Year award winners. One of the things I love most about Thompson as a defender is his versatility. At 6’7”, Thompson has the size to check bigger forwards on the wing but has the athleticism and quickness to stay in front of much smaller elite guards as well. One of the reasons NBA defenses have been so effective on a given night is because of the constant defensive switching enforced, where the responsibility comes to an immense level, so one of Thompson’s most appealing skills as a defender is his switchability where few players in the league possess that ability to confidently guard anywhere on the floor without it being a liability. Another factor which allows Thompson to compete at this level is his ability to create takeaways for his team. Thompson’s play style is not limited to stopping his assigned player in front of him as he is extremely active and able to anticipate passes to get steals and pressure opposing guards causing them to make errors leading to easy fast breaks or open looks from our team. His active hands create easy transition looks that help to jump-start their defense on either side of the ball. One trait that allows Thompson to stand out among his peers, is his relentless motor on both ends of the court. Whether it's the countless off-ball efforts like chasing shooters over a hard screen, scrambling for a loose ball, or recovering on a breakdown to block a shot, Thompson is constantly competing. He always has high energy and has made many contributions that even if they are overlooked, they definitely help the flow of the team and play style in a tremendous way. Great defenders always hustle, and that's not an issue for him. Perhaps the most intriguing component to Thompson's defense is the basketball IQ he possesses at such a young age. He understands positioning,rotations and reads offenses quickly which allows him to provide support to his teammates or cover for breakdowns he notices unfolding quickly on the floor allowing them to score very easily against our team. The ability to read an offense's intentions is critical and it's something only premier basketball players can consistently do well. As the Detroit Pistons look to rise up in the NBA standings, Thompson’s contributions to the defensive end of the floor can only get stronger. Historically, many winners of Defensive Player of the Year awards come from top defensive teams, and he appears set to become a backbone of a potential dominant defense forDetroit. If his teammates can get on board and help him create an identity as one of the best defensive teams in the NBA, there's a chance that he could earn this specific award. In conclusion, Ausar Thompson embodies nearly everything a candidate could ask for in pursuit of Defensive Player of the Year award with all of the tools and athleticism to continue to impact the NBA on a elite level of this caliber. His switchability, explosive athleticism, quick hand speed, relentless drive, and defensive intuition make him an extremely strong future candidate. If Thompson can continue his upward trajectory and maintain the focus on defense, he has more than enough potential to eventually be named the Defensive Player of the Year.