Tristan Thompson Hit With 25 Game Suspension For NBA Anti-Drug Violation

Tristan Thompson finds himself benched with a 25-game suspension for violating the NBA's anti-drug rules. 

The basketball player who has been in the headlines since last year for not-so-great reasons in his personal life is getting the heat again for a workplace infraction. 

The suspension, taking effect from Wednesday, would force the professional basketball player to sit out crucial games, impacting his career and the team's performance. The NBA reached the decision after the Cleveland Cavaliers forward tested positive for banned substances ibutamoren and SARM LGD-4033. 

Both ibutamoren and SARM LGD-4033 are classified as performance enhancers, known to provide users with increased strength and accelerated recovery. Unfortunately, Thompson's positive tests triggered consequences that extend beyond the basketball court.

The league's decision revealed on Tuesday, added an additional layer to the Cavaliers' upcoming game against the Milwaukee Bucks, where the 32-year-old's absence will be felt. Despite the severity of the suspension, the former Boston Celtics player has yet to address the positive test results publicly.

Thompson's journey in the NBA has seen him navigate various teams, with his return to the Cavaliers last year marking a significant chapter. His current contract details, as per Sportrac, indicated a one-year deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers, valued at $3,196,448, inclusive of a guaranteed amount matching the total contract value. 

His annual average salary mirrored the contract figure, and for the 2023-24 season, Thompson was set to earn a base salary of $3,196,448. The financial details further included a cap hit of $2,019,706 and a substantial dead cap value of $20,198,706.

The suspension followed a pattern of previous fines levied against the reality TV star, highlighting a history of on-court disciplinary actions. In a March 27, 2022 game against CHI-NOP, he faced a $20,000 fine for making profane comments towards an official. 

Reflecting on the 2018 playoffs, Thompson encountered fines totaling $27,000. On June 1, 2018, he received a $25,000 penalty for "failing to leave the court in a timely manner" after being ejected from the CLE-GSW game. 

Before that, on May 31, 2018, he was fined $2,000 for an ejection during the same playoff series against CLE-GSW.

In a previous legal twist, The Blast reported that the NBA star found himself in hot water over allegations of failing to meet his monthly child support payment of $40,000 to his first baby mama, Jordan Craig.

After being mandated to contribute the sum monthly to Craig until their son turned 18, she initiated legal action to garnish a portion of Thompson's considerable earnings. She asserted that he either issued partial payments or entirely skipped them beginning in November 2022.

The social media influencer detailed Thompson's irregular payment history, highlighting instances of partial payments and significant gaps in fulfilling the court-ordered financial commitment.

According to Craig, from February 2023 to August 2023, he consistently made partial payments, starting at $14,500 and culminating in his highest contribution of $29,000. Over nine months, his cumulative child support payments amounted to $136,000, leaving a notable gap of $224,000 unaddressed.

Despite a WRIT of Execution for child support arrears of $232,763.97 issued by the court, the model claimed little progress in recovering the outstanding amount. With Thompson's contract renewal with the Cleveland Cavaliers last September, she saw an opportunity to address the unpaid child support. 

In her court filing, she requested that his team cease paying the forward's salary until his child support debt was settled. She sought a court order instructing the Cavaliers to withhold $80,000 from her former partner's monthly salary until the child support arrears were fully paid. In her words:

"It is my understanding that Tristan has recently signed a contract of employment with a professional sports team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, in Cleveland, Ohio. I seek to garnish some portion of his salary to pay the arrears he owes me."

She justified this specific amount based on her belief that Thompson signed a "veteran's minimum" contract with the team, earning approximately $2.7 million annually.