A former NBA lottery pick has been cleared to return after he was sidelined for a lengthy period due to a blood clot issue.
Detroit Pistons swingman Ausar Thompson has been cleared to play by the NBA’s fitness panel, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Monday. Thompson, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, will now begin participating in full-contact practices and is expected to make his season debut in the near future.
The Pistons announced last March that Thompson would miss the final 14 games of his rookie season while being treated for a blood clot. The 21-year-old has been held out of full-contact basketball activities for eight months.
Thompson played in 63 games last season. He averaged 8.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game and proved to be an excellent defender. The 6-foot-6 former Overtime Elite basketball league star joined Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren last year as the only rookies with at least 50 steals and 50 blocked shots.
The Pistons entered Monday with a 4-7 record. If Thompson can quickly get back up to speed, he should be able to help them going forward.
