Detroit Pistons standout defender Ausar Thompson was among the leading vote-getters for a prestigious award.
The Pistons' athletic third-year wing was a finalist in the Defensive Player of the Year race, the NBA announced Monday, April 20, but did not win the award.
San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama, 23, was the unanimous winner with all 100 votes, and also topped Oklahoma City big man Chet Holmgren, 22.
Wembenyama, at age 22, is the youngest to win the Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy.
Thompson, 23, submitted a stellar defensive season, establishing himself as one of the best at his position in the league.
ONE TO WATCH: Obsessive film habit drives Ausar Thompson's otherworldly defense
Thompson averaged 9.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, an NBA-high two steals and 0.9 blocks in just 26 minutes per game. He was the leader of the league's No. 2 defense, which forced more turnovers and blocked more shots per game than any other team. He also is likely to make an All-Defensive team.
Thompson was looking to become the third Piston to win the award, following Dennis Rodman (1990, 1991) and Ben Wallace (2001, 2003, 2005, 2006).
The Pistons earned the East's No. 1 seed following a 60-22 season – the third-best record in franchise history. It's the first 1-seed for the franchise since 2006-07.
They're still looking for their first home playoff win at Little Caesars Arena, however; the eighth-seeded Magic pulled off a Game 1 upset at LCA on Sunday, extending the Pistons' skid to six straight there and an NBA-record 11 straight home playoff losses.
Thompson curiously played just three minutes Sunday in the fourth quarter and 25 minutes overall, tallying eight points, seven rebounds and three steals, as the Magic defense roamed off him due to his deficient outside shooting capabilities.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Pistons' Ausar Thompson misses out on NBA Defensive Player of the Year