Tristan Thompson: Navigating Grief, Family and Basketball

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – After a successful season for the Cavaliers that ended in heartbreak, the team went to work this offseason and added a few more key pieces to take this team to the next level.

One of them you might know, he’s very familiar with Cleveland and has a championship pedigree.

“Coming here I had a little chin strap with barely any facial hair,” said Tristan Thompson. “Now I got a full bread, it’s crazy how much time has passed.”

It’s been 12 years since the Cavaliers drafted the young vibrant talent Tristan Thompson out of Texas.

After Thompson’s departure in 2020, the former NBA champion has returned to his roots.

A place he called home for nine years.

“Yeah, no it was a huge factor,” said Thompson. “Just being in a place that I’m super comfortable with, knowing the organization, knowing the people, knowing how to get around and move around. You know Cleveland has always felt like home to me. I came here when I was teenager and left when I was an adult. It’s always been home to me.”

After three years, Thompson and the city of Cleveland have continued to grow.

“When I left, you’d be lucky to see one or two cranes downtown but now you see so many,” said Thompson. “So many new high rises building up, so it’s great for the city.”

Thompson agreed to come back to the Cavs on a one-year deal.

Thompson only been back in Cleveland for a for a few months but there was one place in particular that his first stop as soon as he touched down.

“Oh, Town Hall! On West 25th, My guy Bobby George always takes care of me. Great food. The paleo chicken tenders is my favorite so I like Town Hall. I had to make sure I got back and make sure the menu is still the same and it had all my favorites. And they had chocolate chip pizookies, so I was happy. I got a sweet tooth.”

As Thompson relishes in sweet treats, a new team and a reunion with his Cleveland family, there’s a part missing from the sidelines this season.

His mother, Andrea, who passed away earlier this year form a heart attack.

“It’s tough obviously this year has been a tough year for me but always believe God gives his toughest tasks to his strongest warriors, so for me it’s just apart of my journey in life,” said Thompson.

Along with losing his mother came the responsibility of taking care of his 17-year old brother, Amari, who suffers from epilepsy and other medical conditions that make it impossible for him to live on his own.

Thompson filed for custody of his brother and was granted temporary guardianship. He said it was never not a thought to become his legal guardian.

“Having my brother is like the one part of my mom that I still keep close to me, taking care of him because I know how she dedicated her life to take care of him. So, it’s just step in right away and when it happened we did what we had to do back home in Toronto and took Amari…and he’s in the best care that he’s ever had. It’s only right and when you’re blessed, you have to bless others and always take care of your family first.”

Family is what pushes Thompson every day.

“Basketball full time, being a dad full time, being my brother’s caregiver, you know its all apart of the journey of life. I think so many people can relate to that. There’s so many people that are going to watch this that are going through similar trials and tribulations so for me to be able to sit on this platform and say things are going to be alright you just have to keep pushing and plugging away. It’s a bigger purpose to all this you know being able to change my family’s life continuing to play to help my brother out to get him the best medical care he needs. Its all apart of the job every day being able to wake up and take care of myself and other is a blessing,” said Thompson.

As the Cavs season opener draws near, Thompson will enter into his 12th NBA season with gratitude and a heavy heart.

But returning to the Cavs is a place that Thompson always hoped the road would lead back to.

The Cleveland embrace is what he’s looking forward to most when his name is called opening night.

“Cleveland sports fans are top tier around the world. The way they embrace their athletes and sports…It’s hard to find that, especially other cities you go to. For the Midwest and northeast Ohio the way they rep their teams is top tier,” said Thompson.

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