The Detroit Pistons have lost a league-high 10 straight games entering Friday’s in-season tournament clash with the Indiana Pacers, despite an optimistic 2-1 start to the season. But don’t blame Ausar Thompson for his team’s exasperating and continuous incompetence. In less than a month, the rookie wing has established himself as one of the game’s most disruptive, energetic defenders.

Despite being at least four inches shorter than every player ahead of him on the leaderboard, Thompson is the only non-big in basketball averaging over 10 rebounds per game and ranking 10th with 1.7 blocks per game. He leads the NBA in loose ball recovery with 1.6 per game and leads rookies in steals with 1.1. According to Cleaning the Glass, the Pistons’ defensive rating drops 5.9 points while Thompson is on the court, providing even more evidence of Thompson’s uncommon influence on that side of the ball.

Thompson’s defensive abilities have already been lauded by Draymond Green this season. While serving his five-game ban for placing Rudy Gobert in a chokehold, the Golden State Warriors star went out of his way to compliment the 20-year-old, criticizing NBA media and fans for not focusing enough on defense.

“Ausar Thompson, who averages 10 rebounds and nearly 2 blocks every game, is underappreciated. That’s incredible!” Green posted on Twitter Wednesday night. “However, let me assume… It’s not points, so what difference does it make?”

Ausar Thompson’s offense must catch up to his defense

Thompson hasn’t gotten as much attention as other first-year standouts Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren, the latter of whom has emerged as an early leader for Rookie of the Year. Nonetheless, Thompson has received several accolades for his excellent defensive abilities from media and fans alike, including at ClutchPoints just a week into the regular season, despite Detroit’s prolonged team-wide malaise and his poor influence on the other end of the court.

Thompson is a one-of-a-kind rookie wing defender. However, he is far from the only young player who can wreck havoc on defense while also providing attacking challenges. Thompson would have received more Rookie of the Year excitement if he had been a solid three-point shooter instead of one of the league’s worst, or even simply a reliable secondary creator, despite Holmgren’s poor start.

With those significant offensive shortcomings and team troubles in mind, there’s just so much more to say about Thompson’s potentially historic defensive trajectory that hasn’t already been said. Thompson is a lock for All-Rookie First Team honors if he maintains, let alone improves, his current level of play. The plaudits are coming, and he’ll get more of them once the rest of Thompson’s game—particularly his spot-up shooting and offensive decision-making—catch up to his defense.