Current Team and Contract
Tristan Thompson currently plays for the San Antonio Spurs as of the latest NBA roster updates. He signed a one-year veteran-minimum contract with the Spurs ahead of the 2024-25 season, bringing veteran frontcourt depth to a team focused on youth development and playoff competitiveness. His presence adds rebounding experience and interior defense to a Spurs rotation that has prioritized versatility and spacing around Victor Wembanyama and the young core. San Antonio Spurs official roster page lists him as a key veteran presence entering the season.
The deal is a standard veteran-minimum contract, with Thompson earning approximately the league salary floor for the 2024-25 campaign, which sits around $3.3 million depending on exact roster calculations and cap holds. His contract does not include a player option or a team option, making him a free agent again after the season concludes if the Spurs choose not to extend. This short-term, low-risk signing allows the Spurs to evaluate his fit alongside younger bigs like Stephon Castle and Harrison Ingram without long-term financial exposure. Spotrac Spurs salary details provides the latest contract figures and cap projections.
Career Journey and Previous Teams
Cleveland Cavaliers Era
Thompson spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers after being drafted fourth overall in the 2011 NBA Draft. He became a central figure in the Cavaliers' 2016 championship run, starting alongside LeBron James and Kyrie Irving and providing elite offensive rebounding and hustle plays that defined Cleveland's identity during that dynasty window. His 2015-16 season stats included career-high averages of 10.0 points and 13.7 rebounds per game, anchoring a defensive frontcourt that helped the team overcome a 3-1 Finals deficit against Golden State. Forbes profile on Tristan Thompson career earnings details his financial trajectory through Cleveland.
Post-Cleveland Moves
After leaving Cleveland in 2019, Thompson joined the Boston Celtics for one season before signing with the Indiana Pacers, where he played from 2020 to 2023. His time in Indiana was marked by a shift to a sixth-man role, averaging career-high three-point attempts while providing veteran rebounding and pick-and-pop spacing. He then signed with the Dallas Mavericks for the 2023-24 season, contributing as a backup center behind Dereck Lively II during Dallas' playoff push and Finals appearance. Basketball Reference Tristan Thompson stats tracks his full career timeline and advanced metrics across all teams.
Career Statistics and Impact
Rebounding and Efficiency
Thompson's career averages sit at 8.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game over 1,118 regular-season games entering the 2024-25 season. He ranks in the top 10 all-time in offensive rebounding percentage among players with at least 500 career games, reflecting his elite nose for the ball and physicality around the basket. His defensive rebounding and rim protection have remained consistent throughout his career, with his box-plus-minus and defensive box-plus-minus metrics showing steady positive impact on winning. ESPN Tristan Thompson