What drives you? What wakes you up in the morning? Fiscal gain? Personal notoriety? A sense of responsibility? For Tristan Thompson, all of the above apply—but not to build his brand or increase his Q score.
Thompson, whose infectious smile has helped land him endorsement deals with Tim Hortons, Biosteel and Nike, is most proud of his off-court relationship with Epilepsy Toronto and Epilepsy Canada. His brother, Amari, who recently turned 9, has seizures nearly every day due to his epileptic condition.
Thompson started the Amari Thompson foundation in his honour in conjunction with Epilepsy Toronto in 2013. “The seizures were horrible,” recalls Thompson, “It is a helpless feeling. We had no exposure to it and you’re scared of things you don’t know.”
Like Amari, more than half of all newly diagnosed patients with epilepsy are children under the age of 10. One out of every 100 Canadian families is affected by the disorder. Each day in Canada, an average of 42 people learn that they have epilepsy. Approximately 0.6% of the Canadian population has had it at some point.
Today, Thompson can recite those figures on call. The summer where most of his media questions were geared to his contract negotiations with the Cavaliers, he was on tour, doing pubic appearances preaching the gospel of epilepsy awareness and support.
But his brother’s ordeal impacts more than how he spends his free time. It impacts him on the court, too. Thompson’s booming voice drops to a hushed tone when he talks about how he’s affected. “When I play, when I train, I think of him. I’m able to do what he’d love to, so the least I can do is use that to help better his life in some form or fashion,” he says.
It was around the time Tristan was finding his way as a young athlete that his family was dealt the difficult blow. His parents, Trevor and Andrea, are both landed immigrants from Jamaica who he describes as “warriors.” They had to shift responsibilities and prioritize Amari’s care all while raising three other boys.
Tristan, the eldest, became an associate parent at that point – making meals, driving to the store to pick up medication, attending to household chores. Already the tallest member of the tight-knit family, Thompson was forced to mature well beyond his years.
At the same time Thompson was also a man among boys on the basketball court – so dominant in the Brampton high school circuit as a grade 9 student at St. Marguerite d’Youville Secondary School, he took his talents south long before LeBron made it a catch phrase.
Although it killed Tristan to be in the USA playing at prep schools and then in the NCAA, he always knew in the back of his head that it was an investment in himself that would pay off for his family.
“I did feel like I deserted them a bit. But I knew if I kept my head down and worked hard I’d be set up to ease their care in the future and help other families who might not have the opportunities I’ve been afforded,” he says. “I’ve been blessed with talent but as a family we’ve been blessed with Amari. He’s brought us closer.”
Betting on himself paid off: In 2011 Thompson was drafted 4th overall after one season at Texas. At the time he was the highest Canadian had ever selected.
Four years later, the ink has barely dried on his second NBA contract— a five year deal worth $82 million— and so Thompson is afforded the opportunity to be close by when he chooses. “All my brothers are like that,” he says. “We want [Amari] to know no matter how long we may be gone he’s loved. Every time I come back the first thing I do is give him a big hug.”
In Toronto this summer for the “Purple walk” and star filled gala dinners, Thompson is spreading the love and spreading his wealth to garner support. As I followed him at his 2nd annual charity event in a swanky event space in downtown Toronto this summer, Thompson couldn’t take two steps without finding a hand to shake or a photo to take.
Corporate folk stop him to take pictures, mothers reach up to tap him on the shoulder to say they are so proud of how he handles himself. Those stricken with Epilepsy thank him for putting their plight in the public eye – historically it hasn’t been a mainstream cause. Young kids with basketballs in hand rush up the stairs and press the glass that separates them from the invited partygoers to catch an excited glimpse of the NBA star. Anthony Bennett’s mother Edith and Andrew Nicholson’s mother Colmaleen are in attendance to support both Tristan and Amari.
Even one of the country’s most philanthropic sports figures, Michael “Pinball” Clemons is taken aback by how generous Thompson has been with his time and riches.
When you see Tristan Thompson jump in the stands after a loose ball, know that the potential pain is far less than the pain he felt watching his young brother go through a seizure. When you read blog comments that suggest Tristan Thompson is selfish for holding out, know that the decision is no different than when he decided to leave home in hopes of garnering big wages to help his family and others with similar issues. Thompson is complex. But there is nothing complex about the source of his motivation. Amari and the Thompson clan are at the centre of his every move, on and off the court.