Thompson begins Bulls tenure by declaring DeRozan MVP
Tristan Thompson said all the right things after his first official practice with the Bulls, starting with why DeMar DeRozan deserves to be the MVP.
"Right now he's the league MVP in my eyes, flat out," Thompson told a large crowd of reporters at the Advocate Center Wednesday.
"With what he's been doing with Zach out, with Zo out, with AC out. Vuc was out for a little bit too. For him to hold the fort down and keep that ship riding high, that's what an MVP does. I'm glad I'm going to be on the same side as him now."
Maybe the new relationship will be good for DeRozan too. Thompson made reference to how his LeBron James-led Cleveland teams knocked Toronto and DeRozan out of the playoffs three years in a row from 2016-18.
"Before we used to play in Toronto, sent him to Cancun a little early," Thompson said. "Now I can be with him on the same team."
The skills Thompson can bring to the Bulls are fairly obvious. He's a defensive-minded big man who will fill an important role as Nikola Vucevic's backup. Thompson also won a championship and played in the Finals for four straight years with the Cavaliers, so he should be a boon to the Bulls' hopes of making a playoff run.
"I think it's only fair and right in this game of basketball, you've got to pay it forward," Thompson said. "I was fortunate to spend time with one of the greatest players (James) and he taught me a lot. So it's only right that I share that wisdom to the younger generation. If I can help whoever it is on this team get 1% better with what I bring to the table, then I've done a good job."
Thompson began his interview session with some friendly banter with coach Billy Donovan about the old days, when Donovan recruited Thompson to play at Florida.
"Did you mention you came to watch eighth grade, had his Florida button-up on, and had his guy with him after winning the national championship game, walking in?" Thompson said in Donovan's direction. "My high school coach wanted me to go (to Florida)."
Thompson, a Toronto-area native, chose Texas instead and turned pro after his freshman season. He was chosen by the Cavs with the No. 4 pick in the 2011 draft. Vucevic and Thompson rank No. 1 and 3, respectively, in career rebounds from the 2011 draft class, with Jonas Valanciunas second.
"Another one I lost," Donovan said of his recruiting failure. "Texas had that Canadian pipeline going. I saw him play in high school and followed his career, always admired how competitive and how tough he was. Just a lot of the dirty work things he's done throughout his career that really impact winning."
Another trait Donovan mentioned was how personable Thompson is. Since the recruiting days, Donovan said he's spoken Thompson often when he coached against him in the NBA.
"He's very approachable, he's really well-spoken, he's incredibly experienced," Donovan said. "He's a guy that takes time to communicate. He makes it very easy to get to know him."
The 6-foot-9 Thompson, 30, is expected to make his Bulls debut Thursday at the United Center against Atlanta. Since the Super Bowl was pushed back a week, and the NBA All-Star Game along with it, there are just 23 games left in the regular season.
While looking ahead, Thompson flashed back to the memorable 2015 playoff series between the Cavs and Bulls, when Derrick Rose and James traded buzzer-beating game-winners before Cleveland won in six games.
"I feel I'm going to be part of something really special," Thompson said. "Playing against Chicago back when Thibs (coach Tom Thibodeau), Jimmy (Butler), Joakim (Noah), having that playoff battle, just feeling the energy in the United Center.
"At this point in my career, if I can be part of that and help this team reach some of their goals this season - which I know is definitely playoffs and beyond. To be part of that and help them out with what I bring to the table, I said, 'Why not?'"
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