Born March 13, 1991, in Brampton, Canada, Thompson played college basketball at the University of Texas before being selected 4th overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2011 NBA Draft.
Thompson spent the majority of his early NBA career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, becoming known for his rebounding, physicality and hustle in the paint.
He played alongside LeBron James during one of the most memorable eras in Cavaliers history.
In 2016, Thompson and the Cavaliers made history by overcoming a 3–1 deficit against the Golden State Warriors to win Cleveland’s first NBA championship.
It remains the defining achievement of his NBA career.
Over his NBA career, Thompson averaged 8.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game across 819 regular-season games.
He wasn’t always the biggest scorer, but his rebounding, defense and physical presence made him valuable.
After 14 seasons in the NBA, Thompson confirmed his retirement in 2026.
Now he’s moving into life beyond the court, including a new role as Global Ambassador for Dubai Basketball.
