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Tag: Tristan

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

    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.

    Tristan Thompson dunks

    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.

    Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

    Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

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

    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.

    CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

    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

    Tristan Thompson dunks

    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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    Raptors players on the bench

    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.

    Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

    Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.