Dec 21, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (12) rebounds in the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
By Robert O'Neill on

Cleveland Cavaliers power forward Tristan Thompson has been suspended by the NBA for 25 games for violating the league’s anti-drug policy.

The league announced Tuesday that Thompson’s suspension without pay was for testing positive for ibutamoren and SARM LGD-4033, a growth hormone and muscle enhancer.

Thompson’s suspension will begin with Wednesday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks. He will be eligible to return on March 16 when Cleveland faces the Houston Rockets in Houston.

Thompson is averaging 3.8 points and 3.9 rebounds in about 12 minutes per game for the Cavs this season, as the former top-five draft pick has settled into being a role player in his 12th NBA season.

Originally selected by the Cavs in the 2011 NBA Draft, Thompson spent his first nine seasons with Cleveland, winning the 2016 NBA championship with the team. His streak of 447 consecutive games played is the longest in franchise history, as Thompson went from the start of the 2012 season until April of 2017 without missing a game. He is third all-time in Cavs history in total rebounds, trailing just LeBron James and Zydrunas Ilgauskas.

After leaving Cleveland after the 2020 season, Thompson spent time with the Boston Celtics, Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls, and Los Angeles Lakers before making his return to Cleveland on a one-year contract before the 2023 season.

Neither Thomspon nor the organization have issued a statement on the suspension.

[NBA]

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