The Cleveland Cavaliers celebrated Tristan Thompson’s return to the franchise with multiple hype posts on social media on Monday.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
Thompson, 33, has spent the majority of his NBA career playing for the Cavs. Cleveland drafted him back in the 2011 NBA Draft with the No. 4 overall pick.
An NBA champion with the Cavs in the 2015-16 season, Thompson spent the first nine seasons of his NBA career with Cleveland. He ended up leaving the Cavs following the 2019-20 campaign.
He played for the Boston Celtics, Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers (he appeared in six games for L.A. in the playoffs during the 2022-23 season) before returning to Cleveland for the 2023-24 campaign.
Last season, Thompson appeared in 49 games for the Cavs and averaged 3.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game. He shot 60.8 percent from the field in the regular season.
Unfortunately for the veteran big man, he was also suspended during the 2023-24 season for 25 games without pay for violating the terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program. Thompson tested positive for ibutamoren and SARM LGD-4033.
He did return to the Cavs from the suspension and ended up playing in 10 games during the playoffs. Cleveland reached the second round of the playoffs for the first time since LeBron James left the franchise after the 2017-18 season.
During the postseason, Thompson averaged 1.5 points and 2.0 rebounds in 8.7 minutes per game. While he didn’t play much, the veteran was needed in some capacity with Jarret Allen going down with an injury.
While the former lottery pick is no longer a key cog in the Cavs’ rotation, he’s become a respected part of the franchise’s locker room after spending so much of his career in Cleveland.
The Cavs have two younger big men in Allen and Evan Mobley that will dominate the frontcourt minutes, but Thompson showed at times in the 2023-24 season that he can be a productive player when called upon.
Also, Thompson has a ton of playoff experience which should help if he’s needed in the playoffs. He also can use that experience to bestow wisdom on his teammates as the Cavs hope to make the playoffs for the third straight season in the 2024-25 campaign.
