If you missed the signature information of Tristan Thompson at the Lakers, we can’t blame you since the 2016 champion has still not come into play.
But this is not a problem because the player is fully aware that his arrival does not fill a gap on the floors.
“When you add a player so late in the season, it’s a question of personality, to have a player who can fit into the dressing room,” does he describe to The Athletic. “You must not be a plague, a player who will weigh down the morale of the group. We are not looking for a player who will score 15 points. No, the team dynamic is already there, especially with the Lakers. The idea is to be an asset. »
Tristan Thompson hadn’t found a squad for the 2022/23 season but had kept fit, training twice a day, five days a week. Without forgetting to watch the matches and especially those of a particular team: the Lakers. “I watched all their matches,” he assures. “I studied their attack and defensive systems extensively. »
“His leadership has been phenomenal”
His test with the Los Angeles franchise in March was therefore timely. He carried out the exercises he had been doing for eight months in his corner. Ready to sign in stride, Tristan Thompson patiently waited for the response from the Lakers, without going through LeBron James, with whom he played and won the title in Cleveland.
“With LeBron, we have had our private relationship for years, for more than a decade. So we always see each other, we have dinner together. But he is my brother above all, before basketball. »
Once the signature was recorded, Tristan Thompson landed with the Lakers not to play, but to be a voice, to share his experience of the playoffs, to be a “star in his role”, he slips. And to jostle his new teammates, if necessary.
“I didn’t want him to hesitate, to feel like the new kid on the block,” explained Darvin Ham to his rookie. “We were going to enter a world that many did not know: the playoffs. I wanted him to use his voice, his experience, to talk about it with them. He looks at all the stats and his leadership is phenomenal. »
Wenyen Gabriel can already attest to the influence of the former Cavaliers and Celtics player. “When he speaks, there is a logic”, entrust the interior. “It doesn’t feel like he’s trying to put you down, tear you down. When he speaks, it’s always constructive. He comes here to try to bring more to everyone. »
| Tristan Thompson | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2011-12 | KEY | 60 | 24 | 43.9 | 0.0 | 55.2 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 6.5 | 0.5 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 8.2 |
| 2012-13 | KEY | 82 | 31 | 48.8 | 0.0 | 60.8 | 3.7 | 5.7 | 9.4 | 1.3 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 11.7 |
| 2013-14 | KEY | 82 | 32 | 47.7 | 0.0 | 69.3 | 3.3 | 5.9 | 9.2 | 0.9 | 2.3 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 11.7 |
| 2014-15 | KEY | 82 | 27 | 54.7 | 0.0 | 64.1 | 3.3 | 4.7 | 8.0 | 0.5 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 8.5 |
| 2015-16 | KEY | 82 | 28 | 58.8 | 0.0 | 61.6 | 3.3 | 5.7 | 9.0 | 0.8 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 7.8 |
| 2016-17 | KEY | 78 | 30 | 60.0 | 0.0 | 49.8 | 3.7 | 5.5 | 9.2 | 1.0 | 2.3 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 8.1 |
| 2017-18 | KEY | 53 | 20 | 56.2 | 0.0 | 54.4 | 2.4 | 4.3 | 6.6 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 5.8 |
| 2018-19 | KEY | 43 | 28 | 52.9 | 0.0 | 64.2 | 4.0 | 6.2 | 10.2 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 10.9 |
| 2019-20 | KEY | 57 | 30 | 51.2 | 39.1 | 61.5 | 4.0 | 6.2 | 10.1 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 12.0 |
| 2020-21 | BOS | 54 | 24 | 51.8 | 0.0 | 59.2 | 3.1 | 5.0 | 8.1 | 1.2 | 2.2 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 7.6 |
| 2021-22 * | All Teams | 57 | 16 | 52.8 | 33.3 | 52.6 | 2.1 | 3.0 | 5.1 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 6.0 |
| 2021-22 * | BAG | 30 | 15 | 50.3 | 100.0 | 53.3 | 2.4 | 3.0 | 5.4 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 6.2 |
| 2021-22 * | CHI | 23 | 16 | 56.5 | 0.0 | 54.2 | 1.8 | 3.0 | 4.7 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 5.7 |
| 2021-22 * | IND | 4 | 16 | 54.2 | 0.0 | 37.5 | 1.8 | 2.8 | 4.5 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 7.3 |
| Total | 730 | 27 | 51.9 | 26.3 | 60.5 | 3.3 | 5.1 | 8.4 | 1.0 | 2.3 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 9.0 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
