Tristan Thompson’s recent positive drug test has thrown the Cleveland Cavaliers into another challenging situation. The NBA has announced that the team’s backup center would be suspended for 25 games without pay for violating the league’s anti-drug policy. This penalty will sideline Thompson for approximately two months, affecting the team’s rotation and on-court dynamics.
According to the league, the 32-year-old Thompson tested positive for ibutamoren, a growth hormone, and SARM LGD-4033, substances commonly associated with muscle enhancement in bodybuilders and weightlifters.
Thompson, hailing from Brampton, Ontario, will commence his suspension on Wednesday, coinciding with the Cavaliers’ game against Milwaukee. He will be eligible to return on March 16, facing Houston.
The Cavaliers, who have been on an eight-game winning streak, have effectively navigated injuries to key starters Darius Garland and Evan Mobley since mid-December. Thompson’s absence will undoubtedly impact the team’s bench depth.
In response to the league’s announcement, the Cavaliers released a statement expressing their disappointment in the news and affirming their support for the NBA/NBAPA Anti-Drug Program. The team acknowledged the impact Thompson’s suspension would have on their performance and pledged support throughout this period.
During the suspension, Thompson is allowed to travel and practice, with the only restriction being that he must leave the arena at least two hours before tipoff for any games.
Thompson, currently in his second stint with the Cavaliers, was originally drafted by the team with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2011 draft. Standing at 6-foot-11, he played a crucial role in the Cavaliers’ 2016 NBA championship victory, the city’s first major professional sports title since 1964.
Thompson has had a diverse NBA career, playing for various teams, including Boston, Sacramento, Indiana, Chicago, and the Los Angeles Lakers. The Cavaliers re-signed him as a free agent to a one-year contract before this season. Despite averaging 3.8 points and 3.9 rebounds in 12 minutes per game, Thompson has been instrumental in helping Cleveland overcome a series of injuries.
Currently holding a 26-15 record, the Cavaliers have managed an impressive 13-3 record in the absence of Garland and Mobley, who are expected to return to the lineup next month. In their recent game against Orlando, Thompson contributed four points and five rebounds in Cleveland’s 126-99 victory.
