Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers have their superstars and then they have their supporting cast. Even though big man Tristan Thompson falls in the latter, it does not mean the superstars want to see him depart the team this summer in free agency. In fact, LeBron James wants to see him be retained so badly that he has decided to advocate for Thompson to become a life-long Cavalier.
“Tristan should probably be a Cavalier for his whole career,” James said after Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals, according to ESPN. “There’s no reason why he shouldn’t.”
“This guy is 24 years old. He’s played in 340-plus straight games, and he’s gotten better every single season,” James continued. “It’s almost like what more can you ask out of a guy, even though we ask for more out of him.”
Thompson’s 301, not 340, appearance streak is the second-longest in the NBA behind DeAndre Jordan. Even though James got the specific number of consecutive games played wrong, he did get the part about Thompson improving every season correct.
Thompson’s points and rebound numbers may have dropped this season, but he has played far more efficiently than he ever has in his four years in the league. Plus, he has come up in big moments. For instance, his game-saving block at the end of the fourth quarter in Game 3 against the Atlanta Hawks was clutch. Then, he follows it up with a game-clinching offensive rebound that led to an assist to James’ go-ahead three-pointer in overtime.
More importantly, Thompson’s teammates have noticed how he plays with heart and energy, which is necessary for the team to be successful. He also is unselfish, as evidence of going from starting 82 games the last two seasons to coming off the bench in 67 contests this season. It is no wonder why James wants to ensure Thompson remains with the team going forward.
Even though Thompson was thrilled by the comments James made about him, the reality is he may not stay with the team past the postseason. The issue is he already passed on a four-year, $52 million contract last October, and it does not appear Cleveland will offer him anything more than that. Not to mention, if the Cavaliers end up winning the NBA Finals, he may go to a team that is prepared to offer him more money.
With that said, it is still nice to see James showcase his leadership skills by publicly displaying his support for one of his younger teammates.
Michael Terrill is a Senior Writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @MichaelTerrill, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
