_(cropped).jpg) Thompson with theCleveland Cavaliers in 2019 | |||||||||||||||
| Free agent | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Centre | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born | (1991-03-13)March 13, 1991 (age 34) Brampton, Ontario, Canada | ||||||||||||||
| Nationality | Canadian / American | ||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 254 lb (115 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school |
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| College | Texas (2010–2011) | ||||||||||||||
| NBA draft | 2011: 1st round, 4th overall pick | ||||||||||||||
| Drafted by | Cleveland Cavaliers | ||||||||||||||
| Playing career | 2011–present | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
| 2011–2020 | Cleveland Cavaliers | ||||||||||||||
| 2020–2021 | Boston Celtics | ||||||||||||||
| 2021–2022 | Sacramento Kings | ||||||||||||||
| 2022 | Indiana Pacers | ||||||||||||||
| 2022 | Chicago Bulls | ||||||||||||||
| 2023 | Los Angeles Lakers | ||||||||||||||
| 2023–2025 | Cleveland Cavaliers | ||||||||||||||
| Career highlights | |||||||||||||||
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Stats at NBA.com  | |||||||||||||||
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |||||||||||||||
Medals
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Tristan Trevor James Thompson (born March 13, 1991) is a Canadian professionalbasketball player who has played 13 seasons in theNational Basketball Association (NBA). Throughout his career, he has played for theCleveland Cavaliers,Boston Celtics,Sacramento Kings,Indiana Pacers,Chicago Bulls, andLos Angeles Lakers. He won anNBA championship with the Cavaliers in 2016. Thompson played one season ofcollege basketball for theTexas Longhorns before being selected by the Cavaliers as the fourth overall pick in the2011 NBA draft.[1] He has also representedCanada in international competitions.
Born inBrampton,Ontario, Thompson attendedSt. Marguerite d'Youville Secondary School for grades 9 and 10. After making two trips from Brampton to visit a prep school in theUnited States, Thompson decided to attendSaint Benedict's Preparatory School inNewark, New Jersey, for his sophomore year, alongside fellowUniversity of Texas at Austin commitMyck Kabongo. He cited increased exposure and a higher level of competition as his reasons for transferring.[2]
Thompson spent his sophomore and half his junior year at St. Benedict's, making an immediate impact and showing flashes of brilliance.[3] In his short time there, he shot through the ranks to super-stardom, becoming the top recruit in the nation entering his junior season.[4] The nation's top basketball programs heavily sought Thompson, who made the first verbal commitment of the class of 2010 toRick Barnes and theTexas Longhorns.[5]
Twenty-one games into his junior year, the relationship between Thompson and then-St. Benedict's coachDan Hurley hit a rough patch. Hurley's in-your-face, no-holds-barred coaching style took a toll on the young star. During a game against then-top-rankedMater Dei, Hurley confronted Thompson during a time out. A heated debate ensued, and Thompson was sent off the court and later removed from the team.[6] Over the next few days he made it known that he was planning to leave, resulting in a barrage of calls from top prep schools throughout North America trying to acquire his services. The next week he transferred toFindlay Prep with his close friend andAAU teammateCory Joseph.[7][8]
Thompson joined Findlay on the back end of their schedule, making an immediate impact on the team and thriving under Findlay coach Michael Peck's system and coaching style. Thompson solidified his top recruit status and helped lead Findlay to their first national championship. He continued to round and polish his skills in his senior year in preparation for college and held fast to his commitment to the University of Texas, officially signing his letter of intent on November 11, 2009.[9] Thompson then led his team to another National Championship at the ESPN National High School Invitational.[10] After their senior year, Thompson and Joseph both committed to Texas and were the fourth and fifth Canadians to be namedMcDonald's All-Americans, afterBill Wennington (1981),Barry Bekkedam (1986) andOlu Famutimi (2003).[11] Thompson was also named aJordan Brand Classic All-American.[12]
Thompson averaged 13.1 points and 7.8 rebounds per game for the Texas Longhorns in 2010–11 as he won the team's Most Valuable Player award, as voted on by his teammates. Nationally, Thompson was one of five finalists for theWayman Tisdale Award, an honour given to the National Freshman of the Year by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association. Thompson won the Big 12 Freshman of the Year honours as well as first-team NABC All-District 8 and USBWA All-District VII honours.[13] He led the team in rebounding, blocked shots (86), double-doubles (10) and field goal percentage (.546) while ranking second in scoring. He helped Texas conclude the 2010–11 season with a 28–8 record and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Round of 32. The Longhorns finished No. 8 in the final AP poll.[14]
Thompson told media after the NCAA tournament that he planned to return to Texas for his sophomore season but changed his mind.[15] On April 21, 2011, he declared for theNBA draft, forgoing his last three years of college eligibility.[16]
On June 23, 2011, Thompson was drafted fourth overall in the2011 NBA draft by theCleveland Cavaliers. At the time, he was the highest drafted Canadian-born player in NBA history,[17] that was untilAnthony Bennett andAndrew Wiggins were selected as the first overall pick in2013 and2014, respectively. Thompson continued to make history, drafted alongside Joseph, who was picked 29th by theSan Antonio Spurs, only the second occasion in NBA history to that date that two Canadians were selected in the first round of the same draft, the first being in 1983 whenLeo Rautins andStewart Granger were selected 17th and 25th respectively.[18] The 2011 draft was also the first time three Texas Longhorn basketball players went in the first round of a draft, when Thompson's former collegiate teammateJordan Hamilton went 26th overall to theDallas Mavericks.[19][20]
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During the2011 NBA lockout, Thompson attended classes at the University of Texas to finish his college degree.[21] Thompson signed his rookie contract with the Cavaliers on December 9, 2011, before the start of training camp.[22] Thompson made his professional debut against his hometownToronto Raptors on December 26, 2011. In 17 minutes off the bench, Thompson scored 12 points and pulled in 5 rebounds.[23] Both Thompson and teammateKyrie Irving were later named to the 2012 Rising Stars Challenge. However, Thompson was selected to play for TeamShaq, while Irving was selected by TeamChuck.
Thompson finished the season with averages of 8.2 points and 6.5 rebounds in 60 games as he earnedNBA All-Rookie Second Team honors, becoming the first Canadian to ever earn All-Rookie team honors in the NBA.
In the2012–13 season, Thompson worked on avoiding getting his own shots blocked, and switched his shooting hand from left to right.[24] For most of the season, almost 17%, or one out of six, of his shots were blocked,[a] threatening former NBA playerDanny Fortson's 16.7% rate in1997–98. Thompson dropped to around 15% by season's end, which was only reached by three other players before the season.[b][25] He went on to average 3.7 offensive rebounds per game, which ranked fifth in the NBA and first among second year players, and set the Cavaliers franchise record for most offensive rebounds in a single season with 306 (second in the NBA), surpassingZydrunas Ilgauskas' 299 offensive rebounds in the 2004–05 season. He also recorded a team-high 31 double-doubles on the season, becoming just the ninth player in franchise history to total at least 30 double-doubles in a single season. He started all 82 games in 2012–13 as he averaged 11.7 points on .488 shooting, 9.4 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 31.3 minutes per game.[26]
In the 2013 off-season, Thompson decided to switch his shooting hand to his right instead of his left.[27] Despite the change, he had an almost identical season for the Cavaliers in 2013–14, as he started all 82 games while averaging 11.7 points and 9.2 rebounds in 31.6 minutes per game. He tied for fifth in the Eastern Conference with a team-leading and career-best 36 double-doubles.[26]
During the 2014 off-season, the Cavaliers acquired All-Star forwardsLeBron James andKevin Love. Thompson came off the bench for most of the season, providing energy and solidifying his place as one of the best offensive rebounders in the league, averaging 8.5 points and 8 rebounds per game. He played in all 82 games and started 15. The Cavaliers finished with a 53–29 record and made the playoffs for the first time since 2010. Early in the first round, Kevin Love dislocated his shoulder and was ruled out for the rest of the post-season. Thompson became the starter after Love's injury and helped the Cavaliers reach the2015 NBA Finals. The Cavaliers faced theGolden State Warriors, and lost the series in six games. During the playoffs, Thompson emerged as one of the NBA's best rebounders, especially on the offensive glass. He became arestricted free agent after the season.[28]
On October 22, 2015, Thompson re-signed with the Cavaliers on a five-year, $82 million contract, ending a four-month contract stalemate that caused Thompson to miss training camp, the preseason, and theFIBA Americas Championship.[29][30][31] Throughout the 2015–16 season, Thompson shared the starting centre role withTimofey Mozgov. On January 25, 2016, he recorded a season-high 19 points and 12 rebounds in a 114–107 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.[32] On March 26, in a win over the New York Knicks, Thompson tiedJim Chones' franchise record by appearing in his 361st consecutive game for the Cavaliers.[33] He broke that record three days later, appearing in his 362nd consecutive game in a loss to the Houston Rockets.[34] Thompson helped the Cavaliers reach theNBA Finals for the second consecutive season. There they made NBA history by coming back from a 3–1 deficit against theGolden State Warriors to win the series in seven games, ending a 52-year championship drought in Cleveland.[35][36]
On December 26, 2016, in a loss to theDetroit Pistons, Thompson became the first player in franchise history to play in 400 consecutive regular-season games.[37] On April 5, 2017, Thompson missed the Cavaliers' game against theBoston Celtics with a sprained right thumb. Thompson's absence ended his streak of consecutive games played at 447—the longest in team history and the longest active streak in the league at the time.[38] He missed four games with the injury before returning to action in Cleveland's regular-season finale on April 12 against theToronto Raptors.[39] Thompson helped the Cavaliers go 12–1 over the first three rounds of the playoffs to reach the NBA Finals for a third straight season. There the Cavaliers matched-up with theGolden State Warriors, but lost theseries in five games.[40][41]
On November 2, 2017, Thompson was ruled out for three to four weeks with a left calf strain that he suffered the previous night against theIndiana Pacers.[42] On December 12, 2017, he played in his first game since November 1; he went scoreless and did not have a rebound in 6 minutes against theAtlanta Hawks.[43] On February 25, 2018, he had a season-high 13 rebounds in 23 minutes in a 110–94 loss to theSan Antonio Spurs.[44] In Game 7 of the Cavaliers' first-round playoff series against the Pacers, Thompson, who played just 24 minutes in the first six games, made a rare start and had 15 points and 10 rebounds in a 105–101 win.[45] The Cavaliers made it to the2018 NBA Finals, where they were swept by theGolden State Warriors.
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To begin the season for the 6–21 Cavaliers, Thompson was averaging career highs in points (12.0) and rebounds (11.6) through 27 games.[46] However, on December 11, he was ruled out for two to four weeks with a left foot sprain.[47] He returned to action on January 2 against theMiami Heat after missing 10 games.[48] On March 20, against theMilwaukee Bucks, Thompson returned after missing 26 games with a sore left foot.[49]
On January 9, 2020, Thompson scored a career-high 35 points with 14 rebounds in a 115–112 overtime win over theDetroit Pistons.[50] He produced a career-best 12.0 points (51.2% FG), 10.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.9 blocked shots, and 30.2 minutes in 57 games played (51 starts) with the Cavaliers in2019–20. He was one of six forwards to average a double-double on at least 50.0% shooting in 2019–20, and the only one of that group to also contribute at least 4.0 offensive boards per contest.[51]
On November 30, 2020, Thompson signed a two-year, $19 million contract with theBoston Celtics.[51][52] In 54 games for the Celtics in the 2020–21 season, he averaged 7.6 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.[53]
On August 7, 2021, Thompson was traded to theSacramento Kings in a three-team trade involving theAtlanta Hawks.[54] He appeared in 30 games for the Kings over the first half of the 2021–22 season, averaging a career high 3-point percentage at 1.000%; as well as 6.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.[55]
On February 8, 2022, Thompson,Tyrese Haliburton, andBuddy Hield were traded to theIndiana Pacers in exchange forJustin Holiday,Jeremy Lamb,Domantas Sabonis, and a 2023 second-round pick.[56] On February 16, Thompson recorded a season-high 17 points along with 6 rebounds and a block in a win over theWashington Wizards.[57] On February 17, after playing four games, the Pacers reached a mutual contract buyout agreement with Thompson.[58]
On February 19, 2022, Thompson signed with theChicago Bulls.[59] He played in 23 games for the Bulls to finish the 2021–22 season.[55]
Thompson spent the 2022–23 season as a free agent after not being re-signed.[60]
On April 9, 2023, Thompson signed with theLos Angeles Lakers ahead of the2023 NBA playoffs,[61] reuniting with former Cavs teammateLeBron James. He played in six games for the Lakers during the playoffs, including the May 22, 2023 game where Thompson woulddunk the ball with the assist coming from James in a 113–111 loss in the2023 Conference Finals. This would be Thompson's last game as a Laker.[62]
On September 12, 2023, Thompson signed with theCleveland Cavaliers on a one-year contract.[63] On January 23, 2024, he was suspended for 25 games without pay after testing positive foributamoren andSARM LGD-4033.[64] Thomson would end the season going .608% from the field; a career high.
On September 9, 2024, Thompson re-signed with the Cavaliers.[65] In the February 13, 2025 game against theToronto Raptors, Thompson would come off the bench with four seconds left in the game before proceeding todunk the basketball, causing an on-court argument.[66] The Cavaliers would go on to win 131–108.[67] Thompson would go on to finish the season averaging 1.7 points per game, 3.4 rebounds per game, and 8.2 minutes per game; all career lows.
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| † | Won anNBA championship | * | Led the league |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011–12 | Cleveland | 60 | 25 | 23.7 | .439 | .000 | .552 | 6.5 | .5 | .5 | 1.0 | 8.2 |
| 2012–13 | Cleveland | 82* | 82* | 31.3 | .488 | .000 | .608 | 9.4 | 1.3 | .7 | .9 | 11.7 |
| 2013–14 | Cleveland | 82 | 82* | 31.6 | .477 | .000 | .693 | 9.2 | .9 | .5 | .4 | 11.7 |
| 2014–15 | Cleveland | 82 | 15 | 26.8 | .547 | — | .641 | 8.0 | .5 | .4 | .7 | 8.5 |
| 2015–16† | Cleveland | 82* | 34 | 27.7 | .588 | — | .616 | 9.0 | .8 | .5 | .6 | 7.9 |
| 2016–17 | Cleveland | 78 | 78 | 30.0 | .600 | .000 | .498 | 9.2 | 1.0 | .5 | 1.1 | 8.1 |
| 2017–18 | Cleveland | 53 | 22 | 20.2 | .562 | — | .544 | 6.6 | .6 | .3 | .3 | 5.8 |
| 2018–19 | Cleveland | 43 | 40 | 27.9 | .529 | — | .642 | 10.2 | 2.0 | .7 | .4 | 10.9 |
| 2019–20 | Cleveland | 57 | 51 | 30.2 | .512 | .391 | .615 | 10.1 | 2.1 | .6 | .9 | 12.0 |
| 2020–21 | Boston | 54 | 43 | 23.8 | .518 | .000 | .592 | 8.1 | 1.2 | .4 | .6 | 7.6 |
| 2021–22 | Sacramento | 30 | 3 | 15.2 | .503 | 1.000 | .533 | 5.4 | .6 | .4 | .4 | 6.2 |
| Indiana | 4 | 0 | 16.4 | .542 | — | .375 | 4.5 | .5 | .0 | .5 | 7.3 | |
| Chicago | 23 | 3 | 16.3 | .565 | .000 | .542 | 4.7 | .6 | .5 | .3 | 5.7 | |
| 2023–24 | Cleveland | 49 | 0 | 11.2 | .608 | .000 | .288 | 3.6 | 1.0 | .2 | .3 | 3.3 |
| 2024–25 | Cleveland | 40 | 0 | 8.2 | .437 | .000 | .233 | 3.4 | .6 | .1 | .3 | 1.7 |
| Career | 819 | 478 | 24.9 | .520 | .238 | .592 | 7.8 | 1.0 | .5 | .6 | 8.3 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Cleveland | 20 | 15 | 36.3 | .558 | — | .585 | 10.8 | .5 | .3 | 1.2 | 9.6 |
| 2016† | Cleveland | 21 | 21 | 29.6 | .527 | — | .575 | 9.0 | .7 | .4 | .9 | 6.7 |
| 2017 | Cleveland | 18 | 18 | 31.2 | .587 | — | .667 | 8.3 | 1.4 | .5 | .7 | 8.2 |
| 2018 | Cleveland | 19 | 11 | 21.9 | .590 | .000 | .741 | 5.9 | .6 | .1 | .4 | 6.2 |
| 2021 | Boston | 5 | 5 | 26.4 | .588 | — | .706 | 9.8 | 1.0 | .8 | 1.2 | 10.4 |
| 2022 | Chicago | 5 | 0 | 7.6 | .400 | — | — | 1.6 | .4 | .2 | .0 | .8 |
| 2023 | L.A. Lakers | 6 | 0 | 5.4 | .455 | — | .200 | 1.7 | .3 | .0 | .0 | 1.8 |
| 2024 | Cleveland | 10 | 0 | 8.7 | .438 | — | .500 | 2.0 | 1.0 | .1 | .5 | 1.5 |
| 2025 | Cleveland | 3 | 0 | 9.7 | .500 | — | .333 | 5.0 | .3 | .3 | .7 | 2.3 |
| Career | 107 | 70 | 24.7 | .557 | .000 | .613 | 7.2 | .8 | .3 | .7 | 6.4 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010–11 | Texas | 36 | 34 | 30.7 | .546 | .000 | .487 | 7.8 | 1.3 | .9 | 2.4 | 13.1 |
Thompson represented his country andCanada Basketball at theFIBA Americas Under-18 Championship in 2008, where Canada won the bronze medal, placing behind Argentina and the United States.[68] Thompson once again competed for Canada at the2009 FIBA Under-19 World Championship inAuckland, New Zealand.[69]
At the2013 FIBA Americas Championship, Thompson averaged 11.6 points and 10.0 rebounds per game.[68] He led the2016 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament with 33 rebounds,[70] and in 2018, he played one game in aqualifying tournament for the2019 FIBA World Cup.[68][71]
Thompson is the eldest of four sons toJamaican parents.[73] His younger brother, Dishawn Thompson, played high school basketball for Wesley Christian High School inAllen, Kentucky, where he was a highly rated prospect.[74]
In 2013, Thompson founded the Amari Thompson Fund, which works closely with Epilepsy Toronto to raise funds and awareness to support those affected byepilepsy. Thompson's youngest brother Amari hasLennox–Gastaut syndrome and experiencesseizures almost daily due to his condition.[75][76][77]
Thompson also serves as a Global Ambassador forSpecial Olympics.[78]
In 2020, Thompson acquiredAmerican citizenship.[79]
Thompson's mother, Andrea, died in early January 2023 after suffering from a heart attack.[80]
Thompson had a relationship with Jordan Craig, who gave birth to his son Prince in December 2016, by which time they had separated.[81]
Thompson has had an on-again, off-again relationship withKhloé Kardashian. They initially began dating in 2016 when he allegedly cheated on his pregnant ex-girlfriend Jordan Craig with Kardashian, according to court documents.[82][83] On April 12, 2018, Khloé gave birth to their daughter, True, amidst controversy after Thompson was found to have cheated on Kardashian during the pregnancy.[84][85][86][87] In February 2019, Thompson and Kardashian split after it was revealed that Thompson had allegedly cheated on Kardashian with her younger half-sisterKylie Jenner's then-best friendJordyn Woods.[88][89] Thompson and Kardashian quarantined together during theCOVID-19 pandemic, and subsequently resumed their relationship from summer 2020 to June 2021,[90] as well as October to December 2021.[91] On July 28, 2022, Kardashian and Thompson welcomed their second child, Tatum,[92] viasurrogate.[93]
In December 2021, Maralee Nichols gave birth to Thompson's son Theo as a result of an affair they had while he was dating Kardashian. Nichols had filed a paternity lawsuit against Thompson earlier that year.[94][95][96] Thompson confirmed the following month that he was the father of Nichols' son and issued an apology to Kardashian.[97]
