The Detroit Pistons are committing big money to one of their most important defenders.
The Pistons and forward Ausar Thompson have agreed to a five-year, $155-million rookie-scale contract extension, ESPN's Shams Charania reports.
The contract comes after Thompson finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting while leading the Pistons to the best record in the Eastern Conference.
Thompson, 23, appeared in 73 games last season and averaged 9.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and a league-leading two steals per game.
He made the All-Defensive first team for his efforts and was the main reason the Pistons had the NBA's second-best defensive rating (109.7).
Charania adds that Thompson and his brother Amen are the first pair of brothers in NBA history to both secure contracts worth more than $100 million. Amen Thompson and the Houston Rockets agreed to a five-year, $208 million extension in early September.
The signing also comes as the Pistons remain in a stalemate with all-NBA centre Jalen Duren, who is a restricted free agent.
