Tristan Thompson is worth every penny of his $82 million dollar contract

The Cleveland Cavaliers gave Tristan Thompson a huge payday, but the big man has certainly shown that he deserved every penny of it.

Tristan Thompson is arguably one of the best rebounding centers in the NBA. Currently he averages 3.8 offensive and 6 defensive rebounds per game. In Thursday’s first action since the All Star break he posted monster numbers: 10 points and 15 rebounds against the New York Knicks. This is the type of game that makes him worth $82 million.

However, with a humongous contract comes the burden of almost unrealistic expectations. The new CBA almost makes this contact look like chump change to what players will potentially be earning in the near future.

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From an outsiders prospective, Tristan Thompson’s contact is just the product of being good friends with Lebron James. Lebron James’s agent, Rich Paul, also represents Tristan Thompson, JR Smith, John Wall, and Ben Simmons.

What the average NBA fan doesn’t understand is that Tristan Thompson has been a dominant glass cleaner since his college days at the University of Texas. In his one lone season in Austin, he averaged 13.1 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. After initially stating he was going to return for his sophomore season, Tristan changed his mind after the NCAA tournament and declared for the 2011 NBA draft.

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Tristan Thompson’s first two seasons in the NBA were a work in progress. He became the first Canadian born player to ever earn all rookie honors in the NBA during his first season. It wasn’t until the 2013-2014 season until his game had reached new heights. In the offseason Tristan permanently changed his shooting hand from his left to his right. The numbers he posted that year were vastly similar to his first two years in the NBA. However, switching his shooting hand allowed him to develop a new sense of confidence within his NBA game.

Tristan Thompson first emerged on the national scene as one of the best rebounding centers during the 2014-2015 NBA season. With the absence of Kevin Love in the NBA Finals due to injury, Tristan Thompson raised his game to a new profound level.

What Tristan Thompson brings to the floor each night is priceless. He brings an energy like no other player and it shows with each passing game. Without Tristan Thompson, the Cavaliers offense would be in shambles. His 3.8 offensive rebounds per game allow the Cavaliers vital opportunities to score second chance points. His presence on the defense end also pay huge dividends, as his 6 defensive rebounds per game signify his dominance on the glass.

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Tristan Thompson is a vital cog in the Cleveland Cavaliers machine. He will need to continue to play well if the team expects to compete for an NBA Championship in June.