Cleveland Cavs veteran Tristan Thompson is returning for his 11th season with the Cavs after signing a one-year extension ahead of 2024-25. As Cavs fans rejoice over Thompson’s re-signing, the organization took it one step further on social media.
After signing Thompson, The Cavs honored him with a tribute reel commemorating his return to The Land. The video, including a clip from the 2011 NBA Draft, where the Cavs selected Thompson fourth overall, highlights Thomson’s best defensive stops, alley ops, and put-back dunks over his ten years in Cleveland. There are also clips from various interviews Tristan has done over the years.
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After spending three seasons with five different teams, including an entire season with the Boston Celtics in 2020-21 before brief stints with the Sacramento Kings (30 games), Chicago Bulls (23 games), Indiana Pacers (four games), and Los Angeles Lakers (six playoff games), Thompson returned to the Cavs ahead of the 2023-24 campaign. However, he had an inconsistent season due to a lengthy suspension and inconsistent playing time under Cleveland’s former head coach, JB Bickerstaff.
Bickerstaff was relieved of his duties following the Cavs’ 4-1 loss to the Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinal round of the NBA playoffs. In late June, former Brooklyn Nets head coach (2016-20) and Golden State Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson was named Cavs’ new head coach.
Tristan Thompson returns for his 11th season with the Cavs
David Richard-Imagn Images
After the Cavs secured their franchise pillars in superstar Donovan Mitchell and starting center Jarrett Allen, the front office added additional help in the frontcourt by signing Tristan Thompson for at least one more season. The Cavs also inked free agent power forward/centers Emoni Bates and JT Thor.
Thompson averaged 3.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 11.2 minutes per game throughout the regular season. However, his numbers in January, where he averaged 4.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 16.1 minutes in nine games, slightly dipped in his return from a suspension.
Thompson was suspended for 25 games after testing positive for two banned substances. He lost the last spot in Bickerstaff’s player rotation, even with the Cavs dealing with a slew of untimely injuries throughout the postseason, including Jarrett Allen missing the end of Cleveland’s first-round series and its best-of-7 against the Celtics.
Perhaps a clean slate under the new voice in head coach Kenny Atkinson will be what the veteran needs to lead the Cavs frontcourt court on the floor and in the locker room.