Tristan Thompson Bio
Tristan Trevor James Thompson is a Canadian-American professional basketball player who has played 13 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Throughout his career, he has played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls, and Los Angeles Lakers. He won an NBA championship with the Cavaliers in 2016 and played one season of college basketball for the Texas Longhorns before being selected by the Cavaliers as the fourth overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft. Thompson has also represented Canada in international competitions.
Early Life and Background
Tristan Trevor James Thompson was born on March 13, 1991, in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. He is the eldest of four sons to Jamaican parents. His younger brother, Dishawn Thompson, played high school basketball for Wesley Christian High School in Allen, Kentucky. Thompson founded the Amari Thompson Fund in 2013, which works closely with Epilepsy Toronto to raise funds and awareness to support those affected by epilepsy. His youngest brother Amari has Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and experiences seizures almost daily due to his condition.
Thompson attended St. Marguerite d’Youville Secondary School for grades 9 and 10 in Brampton. He made two trips from Brampton to visit a prep school in the United States before deciding to attend Saint Benedict’s Preparatory School in Newark, New Jersey, for his sophomore year. He cited increased exposure and a higher level of competition as his reasons for transferring. At St. Benedict’s, he played alongside fellow University of Texas at Austin commit Myck Kabongo.
After a rocky end to his time at St. Benedict’s due to a disagreement with coach Dan Hurley, Thompson transferred to Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nevada, joining his close friend and AAU teammate Cory Joseph. Thompson helped lead Findlay to their first national championship and solidified his status as the top recruit in the nation. He officially signed his letter of intent with the University of Texas on November 11, 2009. He became one of the fourth and fifth Canadians to be named McDonald’s All-Americans, following Bill Wennington (1981), Barry Bekkedam (1986), and Olu Famutimi (2003).
Path to Basketball
Thompson’s journey from Canadian high school standout to NBA prospect took him through three preparatory schools. At St. Benedict’s, he shot through the ranks to super-stardom, becoming the top recruit in the nation entering his junior season. The nation’s top basketball programs heavily sought Thompson, who made the first verbal commitment of the class of 2010 to Rick Barnes and the Texas Longhorns. At Findlay Prep, he thrived under coach Michael Peck’s system and continued to round and polish his skills in preparation for college.
After his senior year at Findlay Prep, Thompson led his team to another National Championship at the ESPN National High School Invitational. He was also named a Jordan Brand Classic All-American and a second-team Parade All-American. His success at the high school level earned him recognition as one of the top prospects in the class of 2010.
Tristan Thompson Career
College Career (2010-2011)
Thompson played one season of college basketball for the Texas Longhorns. He averaged 13.1 points and 7.8 rebounds per game in the 2010-11 season, winning the team’s Most Valuable Player award as voted on by his teammates. Nationally, Thompson was one of five finalists for the Wayman Tisdale Award, an honour given to the National Freshman of the Year by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association.
He won Big 12 Freshman of the Year honours and earned first-team NABC All-District 8 and USBWA All-District VII honours. 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. On April 21, 2011, Thompson declared for the NBA draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility.
Cleveland Cavaliers (2011-2020)
On June 23, 2011, Thompson was drafted fourth overall in the 2011 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. At the time, he was the highest drafted Canadian-born player in NBA history. He was also drafted alongside Joseph, who was picked 29th by the San Antonio Spurs, marking only the second occasion in NBA history that two Canadians were selected in the first round of the same draft. Thompson signed his rookie contract with the Cavaliers on December 9, 2011.
Thompson made his professional debut against his hometown Toronto Raptors on December 26, 2011, scoring 12 points and pulling in 5 rebounds in 17 minutes off the bench. He finished the season with averages of 8.2 points and 6.5 rebounds in 60 games, earning NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors. He became the first Canadian to ever earn All-Rookie team honors in the NBA.
In the 2012-13 season, Thompson set the Cavaliers franchise record for most offensive rebounds in a single season with 306, surpassing Zydrunas Ilgauskas’ 299 offensive rebounds in the 2004-05 season. He averaged 11.7 points on .488 shooting, 9.4 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks in 31.3 minutes per game. In the 2013-14 season, he started all 82 games while averaging 11.7 points and 9.2 rebounds.
During the 2014 off-season, the Cavaliers acquired All-Star forwards LeBron James and Kevin 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. After Love suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in the first round of the playoffs, Thompson became the starter and helped the Cavaliers reach the 2015 NBA Finals, where they lost to the Golden State Warriors in six games.
On October 22, 2015, Thompson re-signed with the Cavaliers on a five-year, $82 million contract. Throughout the 2015-16 season, he helped the Cavaliers reach the NBA Finals for the second consecutive season. The Cavaliers made NBA history by coming back from a 3-1 deficit against the Golden State Warriors to win the series in seven games, ending a 52-year championship drought in Cleveland. Thompson won his first and only NBA championship with this team.
Boston Celtics (2020-2021)
On November 30, 2020, Thompson signed a two-year, $19 million contract with the Boston Celtics. In 54 games for the Celtics in the 2020-21 season, he averaged 7.6 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.
Sacramento Kings (2021-2022)
On August 7, 2021, Thompson was traded to the Sacramento Kings in a three-team trade involving the Atlanta Hawks. He appeared in 30 games for the Kings over the first half of the 2021-22 season, averaging 6.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. He also posted a career-high 3-point percentage at 100 percent that season.
Indiana Pacers (2022)
On February 8, 2022, Thompson was traded to the Indiana Pacers as part of a deal involving Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield. He played four games for the Pacers before the team reached a mutual contract buyout agreement with him.
Chicago Bulls (2022)
On February 19, 2022, Thompson signed with the Chicago Bulls. He played in 23 games for the Bulls to finish the 2021-22 season.
Los Angeles Lakers (2023)
On April 9, 2023, Thompson signed with the Los Angeles Lakers ahead of the 2023 NBA playoffs, reuniting with former Cavaliers teammate LeBron James. He played in six games for the Lakers during the playoffs, including a May 22, 2023 game in the Conference Finals where Thompson dunked the ball with an assist from James in a 113-111 loss. This marked his final game as a Laker.
Return to Cleveland (2023-2025)
On September 12, 2023, Thompson signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers on a one-year contract, returning to the franchise where he spent his first nine seasons. On January 23, 2024, he was suspended for 25 games without pay after testing positive for ibutamoren and SARM LGD-4033. He finished the 2023-24 season shooting 60.8 percent from the field, a career high.
On September 9, 2024, Thompson re-signed with the Cavaliers. In a February 13, 2025 game against the Toronto Raptors, Thompson came off the bench with four seconds left in the game and dunked, causing an on-court argument. The Cavaliers went on to win 131-108. He finished the 2024-25 season averaging 1.7 points per game, 3.4 rebounds per game, and 8.2 minutes per game, all career lows.
Playing Style and Strengths
Thompson established himself as one of the NBA’s best rebounders throughout his career, particularly on the offensive glass. During the 2012-13 season, he averaged 3.7 offensive rebounds per game, ranking fifth in the NBA and first among second-year players. His ability to crash the boards and create second-chance opportunities became a hallmark of his game. As a centre, he provided energy off the bench and solidified his place as a valuable role player capable of contributing in multiple areas.
Notable Events and Milestones
Thompson’s career has included several notable milestones. He broke Jim Chones’ franchise record by appearing in his 362nd consecutive game for the Cavaliers in March 2016. He became the first player in Cavaliers franchise history to play in 400 consecutive regular-season games in December 2016. His 447-game consecutive appearances streak became the longest in team history and the longest active streak in the league at the time before ending due to injury in April 2017.
Tristan Thompson Career Wins
Throughout his NBA career spanning 13 seasons, Thompson has accumulated significant accomplishments at both the team and individual levels. His championship win with the Cavaliers in 2016 stands as the pinnacle of his professional achievements.
NBA Highlights
Thompson’s most significant career achievement came in 2016 when he helped the Cleveland Cavaliers defeat the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals, marking the franchise’s first championship. The Cavaliers made history by becoming the first team to come back from a 3-1 deficit to win the Finals series. On a personal level, Thompson was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2012, becoming the first Canadian to earn All-Rookie team honors. He also set the Cavaliers franchise record for most offensive rebounds in a single season with 306 during the 2012-13 campaign.
International Achievements
Thompson represented Canada at the FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship in 2008, where Canada won the bronze medal. He competed again for Canada at the 2009 FIBA Under-19 World Championship in Auckland, New Zealand. At the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship, he averaged 11.6 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. He led the 2016 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament with 33 rebounds and played one game in a qualifying tournament for the 2019 FIBA World Cup in 2018.
Tristan Thompson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Thompson is the eldest of four sons to Jamaican parents who immigrated to Canada. His family background has been a significant part of his identity throughout his career. His younger brother Dishawn Thompson was a highly rated basketball prospect at Wesley Christian High School in Allen, Kentucky.
In 2013, Thompson established the Amari Thompson Fund in honour of his youngest brother Amari, who lives with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. The fund works closely with Epilepsy Toronto to raise funds and awareness for those affected by epilepsy. Thompson also serves as a Global Ambassador for Special Olympics, demonstrating his commitment to supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Personal Life
Thompson has four children. His son Prince was born in December 2016 with his ex-girlfriend Jordan Craig. He shares a daughter, True, born in April 2018, with Khloé Kardashian. In December 2021, Maralee Nichols gave birth to his son Theo as a result of a relationship they had while Thompson was dating Kardashian. Thompson confirmed paternity of Theo in January 2022 and issued an apology to Kardashian. In July 2022, Kardashian and Thompson announced they were expecting a baby boy via surrogacy, and their son Tatum was born on July 28, 2022.
Thompson and Kardashian initially began dating in 2016. They became engaged in February 2021 but split for good in December 2021. Thompson acquired American citizenship in 2020. His mother, Andrea, died in early January 2023 after suffering from a heart attack.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024-25 NBA season marked a challenging chapter in Thompson’s career as he returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers for his second stint with the franchise. After signing a contract extension in September 2024, Thompson appeared in a limited role off the bench for the Cavaliers. The February 13, 2025 game against the Toronto Raptors became memorable when Thompson checked in with four seconds remaining and immediately dunked, sparking an on-court argument with opponents. The Cavaliers won the game decisively 131-108.
Thompson’s season averages of 1.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 8.2 minutes per game represented career lows across the board. Despite the reduced production, his veteran presence provided depth and experience to a Cavaliers team looking to develop young talent while competing for playoff positioning. His time with the organization continued a legacy that began when he was drafted by Cleveland in 2011.