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Tag: Thompson

Tristan Thompson responds to Raptors coach Darko Rajaković’s suggestion Cavaliers star lacked class

On Wednesday, Toronto Raptors coach Darko Rajaković described veteran Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson as a “no-class” player after the Cavs’ 131-108 win over the Raptors.

Rajaković also suggested Thompson’s actions showed a lack of respect.

“I think what Tristan did there was no class and disrespectful,” Rajaković said during a postgame press conference. “I’m not going to stand for that, for sure. I love when my team stands up for themselves. That was no class.”

Rajaković was irked by Thompson’s two-handed slam in the final seconds of the game.

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Raptors players Scottie Barnes and Jamal Shead confronted Thompson immediately after the final buzzer sounded, and some fans directed boos at the Cavs big man.

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ Tristan Thompson, right, has words with the Toronto Raptors in Toronto Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Thompson took to social media Thursday to share his response to Rajaković’s remarks. Thompson asserted that the Raptors engaged in a “full court press” even as Toronto was trailing by double-digits late in the game.

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“You wanna full court press with under a minute left in the game when you get cracked by 30 this will happen to you. Lose for draft lottery and be happy buddy boy. Hopefully you and most of your guys see the light at the end of Bobby and Masai long term plan. Bless up stay warm in MY CITY,” Thompson wrote on X Feb. 13.

Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said he didn’t understand Thompson’s thought process at the time, but he also did not believe there were “bad intentions” behind the dunk.

Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson dunks against the Toronto Raptors during the second half at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto Feb. 12, 2025. (John E. Sokolowski/Imagn Images)

“I’m not sure what he was thinking,” Atkinson said. “Sometimes, though, you’re playing the game, and you just have a reaction. I know with Tristan, there’s no bad intention there. I think just sometimes you’re playing, and the goal of the game is to score. Unfortunate.”

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Thompson, who is from Canada, had four points in four minutes. He is averaging 1.7 points and 3 rebounds per game in 28 games this season.

Fox News’ Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.

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Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

February 13, 2025
Cavs’ Tristan Thompson sparks skirmish over last-second slam dunk vs Raptors

Cleveland Cavaliers veteran Tristan Thompson ruffled feathers in the team’s 131-108 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night.

The longtime center, who is only averaging about 7.8 minutes per game these days, scored a last-second dunk at the end of the blowout win. Raptors fans booed Thompson as he jogged back down the court. A few Raptors players got into Thompson’s face as well once the buzzer sounded to signal the end of the game.

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Cleveland Cavaliers’ Tristan Thompson, #13, has words with the Toronto Raptors in an NBA basketball game in Toronto on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

The skirmish was broken up, but Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic called the last-minute slam “disrespectful.”

“I think what Tristan did there was no class and disrespectful,” Rajakovic said. “I’m not going to stand for that, for sure. I love when my team stands up for themselves. That was no class.”

Raptors guards Scottie Barnes and Jamal Shead were among those who confronted Thompson. Barnes declined to comment after the game, but Shead agreed with Rajakovic.

LUKA DONCIC TRADE TO LAKERS COULDN’T BE VETOED, NBA COMMISH SAYS

Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson, #13, dunks the ball against the Toronto Raptors during the second half at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Feb. 12, 2025. (John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images)

“What he did at the end of the game was just a little bit disrespectful to the game of basketball, not just us,” Shead said. “We had a couple of choice words. We’re adults, we’ll move on from it.”

Cleveland star Donovan Mitchell was seen with his hands over his head in disbelief after Thompson’s dunk. Head coach Kenny Atkinson didn’t have many answers for it.

“I’m not sure what he was thinking,” Atkinson said. “Sometimes, though, you’re playing the game and you just have a reaction. I know with Tristan, there’s no bad intention there. I think just sometimes you’re playing and the goal of the game is to score. Unfortunate.”

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From left to right, Toronto Raptors’ Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley sit on the bench during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Toronto on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Thompson, who is from Canada, had four points in four minutes. He is averaging 1.7 points and 3 rebounds per game in 28 games this season.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

February 13, 2025
UnitedHealthcare announces new CEO after killing of Brian Thompson

Fox News national correspondent Bryan Llenas reports on the arrest of Luigi Mangione, a suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on ‘Your World.’

UnitedHealth Group on Thursday announced the new leader of its insurance division, UnitedHealthcare, after last month’s alleged targeted killing of former CEO Brian Thompson.

Tim Noel, who most recently served as CEO of UnitedHealth Group’s Medicare and retirement business, will step into the top job at UnitedHealthcare after Thompson’s killing. Noel has worked for the company since 2007.

UnitedHealth Group said in a statement Noel “brings unparalleled experience to this role with a proven track record and strong commitment to improving how healthcare works for consumers, physicians, employers, governments and our other partners.”

UnitedHealthcare is the largest U.S. health insurer and provides benefits to more than 50 million Americans.

UNITEDHEALTH GROUP AIMS TO GET BACK TO BUSINESS AFTER CEO MURDER

UnitedHealth Group veteran Tim Noel will serve as CEO of the company’s insurance division, UnitedHealthcare. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images / Getty Images)

Thompson was shot and killed Dec. 4 in Manhattan, where he was about to attend the company’s investor day. Law enforcement officials called the killing a “premeditated, targeted attack.”

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UNH UNITEDHEALTH GROUP INC. 529.66 +10.34 +1.99%

Thompson worked for the company for more than 20 years and had previously served as chief financial officer for several of the company’s businesses, including its employer and individual, community and state and Medicare and retirement divisions before becoming UnitedHealthcare CEO.

WHO WAS BRIAN THOMPSON, UNITEDHEALTHCARE CEO?

UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty testifies during a Senate Finance Committee hearing in Washington, D.C., May 1, 2024. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Luigi Mangione was arrested and charged with murder in the killing, and he also faces charges related to stalking, guns and a fake ID. Mangione faces federal charges in addition to charges in the states of New York and in Pennsylvania, where he was apprehended after a manhunt.

Scores of people online praised Mangione for allegedly carrying out the killing, using the crime as an opportunity to unleash frustrations with the U.S. healthcare system.

LUIGI MANGIONE WASN’T A UNITEDHEALTHCARE MEMBER, MAY HAVE TARGETED COMPANY BECAUSE OF SIZE AND INFLUENCE: NYPD

This 2017 file photo of Brian Thompson was released by Businesswire when he was named CEO of UnitedHealthcare in 2017. (Businesswire / Fox News)

Last week, UnitedHealth Group announced its most recent earnings report in which CEO Andrew Witty thanked the public for the “overwhelming expressions of condolence and support” after Thompson’s murder.

“Many of you knew Brian personally. You knew how much he meant to all of us, and how he devoted his time to helping make the health system work better for all of the people were privileged to serve,” Witty said. Thompson “would dive in with passion and care to find solutions to improve experiences, whether for an individual consumer or an employer or a public health agency.

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“The people of UnitedHealth Group remain focused on making high-quality, affordable healthcare more available to more people while making the health system easier to navigate for patients and providers, positioning us well for growth in 2025.”

FOX Business’ Daniella Genovese and Reuters contributed to this report.

January 23, 2025
Capitals netminder Logan Thompson blames rogue nacho platter for Oilers goal

Edmonton Oilers star Corey Perry likely had one of the most unusual assists of his career during the third period of Tuesday night’s game against the league-leading Washington Capitals.

The Oilers were trailing 3-1 to start the third period when center Leon Draisaitl skated into Washington’s zone, making a quick pass to Perry, who beat Capitals netminder Logan Thompson to cut the lead to a one-goal deficit.

Corey Perry, #90 of the Edmonton Oilers, skates against Pierre-Luc Dubois, #80 of the Washington Capitals, during the first period of the game at Rogers Place on Jan. 21, 2025 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)

However, Thompson appeared to take issue with the sequence of events, pleading to officials that something had been thrown onto the ice before the pass was made.

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What was it that distracted one of the NHL’s top goalies? A platter of nachos.

“That’s a first,” Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said after the game, via ESPN.

“We just talked about that in the coaches’ office. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a nachos-on-the-ice National Hockey League game. Did they save them? Maybe we can bring them into the locker room.”

Corey Perry, #90 of the Edmonton Oilers, scores a third-period goal against Logan Thompson, #48 of the Washington Capitals, during the game at Rogers Place on Jan. 21, 2025 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)

NHL SUSPENDS OILERS’ CONNOR MCDAVID 3 GAMES FOR CROSS-CHECKING OPPONENT IN THE HEAD

A replay of the play showed Perry skating around the concession stand favorite to find the back of the net. Thompson admitted after the game that he should have played until the whistle.

“I’ve never seen that before. Obviously, I’ve got to play to the whistle. That one’s on me,” Thompson said, adding that he saw the fan that threw the plate of nachos.

“Wasn’t too happy. But credit to him. He got them a goal,” he said, suggesting the fan was an Oilers supporter.

Alex Ovechkin, #8, and Logan Thompson, #48 of the Washington Capitals, celebrate a victory over the Edmonton Oilers after the game at Rogers Place on Jan. 21, 2025 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)

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For his part, Perry admitted to not even noticing the platter.

Despite the setback, the Capitals were able to hold on to the 3-2 lead for the win as they extended their win streak to five straight. The Oilers have now dropped two in a row and their first since star forward Connor McDavid was issued a three-game suspension for cross-checking.

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January 23, 2025