NBA Lockout: Cleveland Cavaliers rookie Tristan Thompson is going back to school
Unlike most National Basketball Association’s players, Cleveland Cavaliers number four draft pick Tristan Thompson, has neither shown his interest in playing overseas nor has he signed a deal with any international league. Instead,
the 20 years old is going back to school for a course and to practice with his former Longhorn team at University of Texas.
Not so long ago, Thompson was standing on the stage with a wide smile on his face after being picked as 4th overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2011 NBA Draft, making him the highest drafted Canadian in the history of NBA.
However, the NBA commenced its lockout about a week he was drafted and that completely reshaped his plans and expectations as a rookie. The lockout resulted in the cancellation of the rookie transition program along with any kind
of communications with officials or team mates.
The young player upset with the current situation commented about the lockout that “It’s a good thing and a bad thing. It’s bad that I'm not working out with the Cavaliers to get ready for the season”.
“Good thing is I'm not playing but I’m still productive, I'm working out with the Texas team and studying because you stop playing when you're around 35, so you've got more years to live and education will help me.”
His selection as the fourth overall pick, although a bit surprising, was based on his good statistics in the National Collegiate Athletic Association, where he averaged 13.1 points and 7.8 rebounds in his single NCAA season and
led his Longhorns to the 3rd round of the March Madness tournament. Some analysts are still not convinced and suggest at 6 ft 9 in, he is not a complete package as a power forward and will struggle against the more built and established opponents
in NBA.
However, the Cavs see things differently and are confident that he will be a part of team’s process of rebuilding since LeBron James left them in tatters last season.
The Canadian player from Brampton, Ontario has also declined the offer to play for Canada at the FIBA Americas Olympic qualifying tournament to pursue his degree in communications. The college will not only give him the opportunity
to study, but he will also participate in the training at Frank Erwin Center gym to be prepared for the next NBA season.
“If basketball starts in January it's probably no training camp. You have to be ready to produce so that's why I'm here being prepared for whenever basketball does start up.”
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