The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Thompson cleared to play after foot injury
From February 2012in his rookie season through April 2017, Thompson played in 447straight regular-season games.
In the not-so-long-ago, Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson was the NBA’s “Iron Man.”
From February 2012 in his rookie season through April 2017, Thompson played in 447 straight regular-season games.
It was the longest consecutive game streak in the NBA at the time. The then-record streak actually was 489, including playoff games in 2015 and the Cavs’ NBA title run in 2016.
Thompson hasn’t been nearly as healthy or lucky since the streak ran its course.
He missed 29 games during the 2017-18 season with three stints on the injured list. Calf injuries sidelined him twice. An ankle sprain also accounted for down time.
This season, Thompson was off to the best start of his eight-year career, averaging 12.0 points and 11.6 rebounds, when he sprained his left foot on Dec. 10 in a 108-92 loss at Milwaukee.
He missed 10 games, nine of them Cavs’ losses, before being cleared to play against Miami at Quicken Loans Arena on Jan. 2.
“If my number is called, I’m ready to go,” Thompson said after the morning shoot-around at Cleveland Clinic Courts on Jan. 2.
“Rehab gets boring after a while,” Thompson added. “It’s better being on the court and playing with your guys. I’m glad to be back.”
The 27-year-old native of Canada was selected by the Cavs with the fourth overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. The Cavs also got Duke point guard Kyrie Irving with the first overall pick in the draft.
Thompson had some interesting comments about the 447-game streak while speaking with reporters about his return from this latest injury.
“It was fun, but it was a dumb streak,” Thompson said. “If I had to do it over again, I would sit some games out.
“I was a guy you could count on every night,” he added. “It was cool, especially with our deep, championship quality teams. It was something nice about me to read in the media guide. That’s always a good thing.”
Thompson mused further on the streak and his subsequent injury history.
“The basketball gods were very good to me. They gave me five years injuryfree,” he said. “Sometimes you have to pay it back a little bit. That’s how I look at it.”
Getting back to his earlier comment about now feeling the streak was “dumb,” Thompson said his mindset about dependability had much to do with how long it ran.
“I’ve never asked a coach for a night off,” he said. “I’m not going to do that. They have to staple me in a chair, not have my jersey nearby and hide my shoes if you want me to sit out a game. That was never in my character.”