Pistons rookie Ausar Thompson to miss remainder of season with BLOOD CLOTS... but the 21-year-old NBA star should be ready for next season

Detroit Pistons rookie swingman Ausar Thompson will miss the rest of the season due to a blood clot, the team announced Wednesday.

'I'm glad the doctors caught it,' coach Monty Williams said.

The 6-foot-6 Thompson is expected to recover for the 2024-25 season.

'Under the guidance of Pistons team physician Dr. Ramsey Shehab of Henry Ford Health, Thompson has been cleared to resume conditioning and will begin non-contact basketball activities at the conclusion of the regular season with a gradual ramp up over the summer months in preparation for a full return next season,' read a statement from Thompson.

Although common, blood clots can be dangerous and even fatal if they move into a patient's lungs. An estimated 900,000 Americans are impacted by blood clots every year resulting in roughly 100,000 deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Detroit Pistons rookie swingman Ausar Thompson (blood clot) will miss the rest of the season

COVID-19 vaccine skeptics have claimed that the injection causes blood clots and AstraZeneca's version has resulted in a small number of serious clotting issues, according to Yale Medicine.

However, AstraZeneca's version is not approved in the United States and Thompson has not been under any mandate to get injected. Neither the NBA nor Overtime Elite, which developed Thompson, currently require players to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Detroit drafted Thompson out of the Overtime Elite developmental program with the No. 5 overall pick last year and he averaged 8.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists. His twin brother Amen was drafted fourth overall by the Houston Rockets. 

Meanwhile Thompson's teammate Isiah Stewart will be sidelined for the Piston's remaining games with a strained right hamstring.

Thompson grabs a rebound during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on March 9

'Both Thompson and Isaiah Stewart are big blows to the team,' Williams said. 'These are two guys that are starters for us and helped us in a number of ways in every facet of the game.

'We do have a next man up mentality, but we are grateful our guys are OK and are going to see great care and still be around the program.'

Stewart averaged 10.9 points and 6.6 rebounds this season, his fourth year with the Pistons. The NBA gave him a three-game suspension in February for punching and pushing Phoenix Suns forward Drew Eubanks.

Detroit has been vying with Washington and San Antonio for the league's worst record this season.