Tristan Thompson

Early life and high school career

Tristan Thompson was born in Brampton, Ontario, the eldest of four sons to Jamaican parents. He attended St. Marguerite d'Youville Secondary School in Brampton for grades nine and ten before seeking a higher level of competition in the United States. For his sophomore year, Thompson transferred to Saint Benedict's Preparatory School in Newark, New Jersey, where he played alongside fellow Canadian and future Texas commit Myck Kabongo. At St. Benedict's, his performance quickly made him the top national recruit entering his junior season, and he made an early verbal commitment to play for coach Rick Barnes at the University of Texas. Twenty-one games into his junior year, a conflict with coach Dan Hurley led to Thompson's removal from the team, prompting his transfer to Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nevada, where he joined his close friend and AAU teammate Cory Joseph.

At Findlay Prep, Thompson succeeded under coach Michael Peck's system and helped lead the team to a national championship. He confirmed his status as a top recruit and, in his senior year, led Findlay to another national title at the ESPN National High School Invitational. On November 11, 2009, he officially signed his National Letter of Intent to attend the University of Texas. Following his senior season, Thompson and Joseph were both named McDonald's All-Americans, making them the fourth and fifth Canadians to receive that honour. Thompson was also selected as a Jordan Brand Classic All-American, concluding a highly decorated prep career that prepared him for the next level.

College career at Texas

In his lone season with the Texas Longhorns in 2010-11, Tristan Thompson made an immediate impact, averaging 13.1 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. He led the team in rebounding, blocked shots with 86, double-doubles with 10, and field goal percentage at .546, while ranking second in scoring. His contributions helped Texas achieve a 28-8 record, advance to the NCAA Tournament Round of 32, and finish ranked eighth in the final Associated Press poll. For his performance, Thompson was voted the team's Most Valuable Player by his teammates and earned significant conference and national recognition.

Thompson's freshman year accolades included being named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year and a member of the All-Big 12 Second Team and Big 12 All-Defensive Team. He was also selected to the USBWA All-District VII Team and the NABC All-District 8 first team. Nationally, he was one of five finalists for the Wayman Tisdale Award, given to the national freshman of the year. After the NCAA tournament, Thompson initially told media he planned to return for his sophomore season but reversed his decision, declaring for the NBA draft on April 21, 2011, and forgoing his remaining college eligibility to begin his professional journey.

NBA career

Cleveland Cavaliers (2011 to 2020) Selected fourth overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2011 NBA Draft, Thompson made history as the highest-drafted Canadian-born player at that time. He made his professional debut against the Toronto Raptors on December 26, 2011, and finished his rookie season averaging 8.2 points and 6.5 rebounds, earning NBA All-Rookie Second Team honours. Over the next several seasons, Thompson developed into a durable and relentless rebounder, famously switching his shooting hand from left to right before the 2013-14 season. He set a Cavaliers franchise record with 306 offensive rebounds in the 2012-13 season and later established the team record for consecutive regular-season games played at 447, a streak that ended in April 2017.

Thompson's role evolved with the arrival of LeBron James and Kevin Love in 2014. He came off the bench for much of the 2014-15 season but became a starter after Love's playoff injury, helping the Cavaliers reach the NBA Finals. The following season, after re-signing on a five-year, $82 million contract, Thompson was a key part of the Cavaliers team that made NBA history by overcoming a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Golden State Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals, bringing Cleveland its first major sports championship in 52 years. Thompson played in three more NBA Finals with Cleveland in 2017 and 2018, with the latter resulting in a sweep by Golden State.

• 2011-12: NBA All-Rookie Second Team.
• 2014-15: Became starter after Kevin Love's injury, helped team reach NBA Finals.
• 2015-16: Won NBA championship with Cavaliers.
• 2016-17: Set franchise record with 447 consecutive games played.
• 2019-20: Averaged career-best 12.0 points and 10.1 rebounds.

Later NBA Tenure (2020 to 2025) After nine seasons in Cleveland, Thompson played for five different teams over the next five years. He signed a two-year deal with the Boston Celtics in 2020, averaging 7.6 points and 8.1 rebounds in the 2020-21 season. He was traded to the Sacramento Kings in August 2021 and later to the Indiana Pacers in February 2022, before a contract buyout led him to sign with the Chicago Bulls to finish the 2021-22 season. Thompson spent the 2022-23 season as a free agent before signing with the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2023 playoffs, reuniting with LeBron James and appearing in six postseason games. He returned to the Cavaliers on a one-year contract in September 2023 but served a 25-game suspension in 2024 after testing positive for banned substances. Thompson re-signed with Cleveland again in September 2024, playing a limited role in his final NBA season where he averaged career lows in points, rebounds, and minutes.

International career with Canada

Tristan Thompson represented Canada Basketball in multiple FIBA competitions throughout his career. His international play began at the youth level, winning a bronze medal with Canada at the 2008 FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship. He also competed for Canada at the 2009 FIBA Under-19 World Championship in Auckland, New Zealand. As a senior national team player, Thompson averaged 11.6 points and 10.0 rebounds per game at the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship. He led the 2016 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament in rebounding with 33 total boards. Thompson played one game in a qualifying tournament for the 2019 FIBA World Cup in 2018, contributing to Canada's efforts on the global stage and demonstrating his commitment to the national program over a decade.

Post-playing career and executive role

Following the conclusion of his NBA playing career after the 2024-25 season, Tristan Thompson transitioned to an executive role in international basketball. On August 20, 2026, he joined Dubai Basketball of the ABA League and the EuroLeague as a global ambassador. In this capacity, Thompson represents the club's brand and engages in promotional and developmental activities, using his profile and experience from a lengthy professional career to support the organization's growth and outreach in the basketball world. His appointment marks a new chapter where he applies his knowledge of the game beyond the court.

Personal life and philanthropy

Tristan Thompson is the eldest of four brothers. His younger brother, Dishawn Thompson, was a highly rated high school basketball prospect at Wesley Christian High School in Kentucky. His youngest brother, Amari, lives with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, a severe form of epilepsy that causes daily seizures. In 2013, Thompson founded the Amari Thompson Fund, which partners with Epilepsy Toronto to raise funds and awareness for those affected by epilepsy. Thompson also serves as a Global Ambassador for the Special Olympics. He became an American citizen in 2020. His mother, Andrea Thompson, died in early January 2023 after suffering a heart attack.

In a March 2026 podcast appearance, Thompson discussed his political views, stating he was very close with Eric Trump, whom he described as a mentor. He expressed support for Donald Trump's immigration policies and stated opposition to transgender athletes competing in women's sports, citing concerns over fairness. Regarding his personal relationships, Thompson has three sons and one daughter. He had a son, Prince, with Jordan Craig in December 2016. With Khloé Kardashian, with whom he had an on-again, off-again relationship from 2016 to 2021, he has a daughter, True, born in April 2018, and a son, Tatum, born via surrogacy in July 2022. Another son, Theo, was born in December 2021 as a result of a relationship with Maralee Nichols.

Career statistics and honours

Questions about Tristan Thompson

Where is Tristan Thompson from?

Tristan Thompson was born in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. He is the eldest of four sons to Jamaican parents. For his early high school years, he attended St. Marguerite d'Youville Secondary School in his hometown. Seeking increased exposure and a higher level of competition, he transferred to Saint Benedict's Preparatory School in Newark, New Jersey, for his sophomore year. He later completed his prep career at Findlay Prep in Nevada, where he won national championships and solidified his status as a top recruit before playing college basketball for the Texas Longhorns.

Which NBA team did Tristan Thompson win a championship with?

Tristan Thompson won an NBA championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016. He re-signed with the Cavaliers that season on a five year, 82 million dollar contract. During the finals, the Cavaliers made NBA history by coming back from a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Golden State Warriors in a seven game series. This victory ended a 52 year championship drought for the city of Cleveland. Thompson played a key role throughout the playoffs, particularly as a dominant offensive rebounder.

What is Tristan Thompson doing after his NBA career?

Following his playing career, Tristan Thompson joined Dubai Basketball as a global ambassador in August 2026. In this executive role, he represents the club of the ABA League and the EuroLeague internationally. His final NBA season was with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2024 2025 campaign, where he averaged career low statistics. His transition to an ambassador role marks his continued involvement in professional basketball off the court.

Did Tristan Thompson play for the Canadian national team?

Yes, Tristan Thompson represented Canada in multiple international competitions. He won a bronze medal at the 2008 FIBA Americas Under 18 Championship. He also competed for Canada at the 2009 FIBA Under 19 World Championship in Auckland, New Zealand. With the senior national team, he averaged 11.6 points and 10.0 rebounds per game at the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship and played in qualifying tournaments for the 2016 Olympics and the 2019 FIBA World Cup.

What philanthropic work is Tristan Thompson known for?

Tristan Thompson is known for founding the Amari Thompson Fund in 2013. This philanthropic initiative works closely with Epilepsy Toronto to raise funds and awareness to support those affected by epilepsy. The fund was inspired by his youngest brother, Amari, who has Lennox Gastaut syndrome and experiences seizures almost daily. Beyond this, Thompson also serves as a Global Ambassador for the Special Olympics, demonstrating his commitment to charitable causes.

What was Tristan Thompson's draft position and which team drafted him?

Tristan Thompson was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers as the fourth overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft. At that time, he was the highest drafted Canadian born player in NBA history, a record later surpassed by Anthony Bennett in 2013 and Andrew Wiggins in 2014. The 2011 draft was historic as he was drafted alongside fellow Canadian Cory Joseph, marking only the second occasion two Canadians were selected in the first round of the same draft. Thompson earned NBA All Rookie Second Team honors in his first season with the Cavaliers.

Sources and further reading

• Tristan Thompson (Wikipedia)
• Tristan Thompson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft ... (basketball-reference.com)
• Tristan Thompson (specialolympics.org)
• Tristan Thompson Challenges Canadians to 'step Up and ... (basketball.ca)

Checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-21.