Tristan Thompson is most well-known for dating Keeping Up With The Kardashians star Khloé Kardashian. But, he used to be a pretty good basketball player, too.
Tristan Thompson was the fourth pick in the 2011 NFL Draft for the Cleveland Cavaliers out of Texas. Known for his tenacious rebounding and shot-blocking ability, Thompson was one of the top recruits entering the 2010-2011 season and was one of the first in a wave of great Canadian recruits.
Thompson was a key player on the Cavaliers teams that went to four straight NBA Finals with LeBron James from 2015 to 2018, especially on the glass. But, he never realized his full potential, mostly due to his inability to score the basketball.
there’s a reason Tristan Thompson is an analyst on ESPN now lmao
— 𝙉𝘼𝙅 (@najeeadams_) March 20, 2023
Tristan Thompson played for the Bulls, Magic, and Pacers last season, but hasn’t played this season. That could be changing soon.
The Los Angeles Lakers are working out free agent centers Tristan Thompson and Tony Bradley this week, sources tell me and @jovanbuha. Thompson, an 11-year NBA veteran, was a key member of the 2016 championship Cavaliers team alongside LeBron James.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 20, 2023
The Lakers currently sit at 35-37, and are in the 10th and final spot in the Western Conference Playoffs, good enough to get them into the play-in game. The Lakers have been thin at center all year long, and usually plays Anthony Davis there, who would prefer to play power forward. Thompson would add toughness, rebounding, and chemistry with LeBron to the Lakers.
It will be interesting to see if they decide to go with Thompson, or go with Bradley, the 25-year-old out of UNC.