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Detroit Pistons guard/forward Ausar Thompson has been cleared to play by the NBA's fitness panel, sources told ESPN. Thompson, the No. 5 pick in the 2023 NBA draft, has been sidelined since March by a blood clot issue and will now begin ramping up, participating in full-contact practices for the first time in eight months and preparing to make his season debut in the near future. Both Thompson and Los Angeles Lakers 7-footer Christian Koloko dealt with blood clots and received clearances from the league's fitness-to-play panel. Thompson averaged 8.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists and nearly one block per game in 63 contests as a rookie for the Pistons last season. He was one of three rookies with 50 steals and 50 blocks in 2023-24, along with San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama and Oklahoma City's Chet Holmgren. He became one of four rookies in Pistons history to record 50 blocks and 50 steals, joining Andre Drummond, Grant Hill and Terry Tyler. The Pistons are off to a 4-7 start to the season under the new leadership of president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon and coach J.B. Bickerstaff. A year ago, it took the Pistons until Jan. 15 to reach four wins en route to a 14-68 record.
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