Tristan Comes Home with Larry
Tristan Thompson was home in Brampton today and he brought his friend Larry O’Brien.
So excited to bring the trophy back home, check out where Larry and I are going on my IG story #LarryandTTinthe6 #Champs #Cavs
— Tristan Thompson (@RealTristan13) August 25, 2016
Thompson brought the Larry O’Brien Trophy, presented to the NBA Champions, along for a tour of his home town, stopping at his old high school St. Marguerite d’Youville, the Brampton Soccer Centre, and of course on a Tim Horton’s run.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BJk_JJKBc_6/?taken-by=realtristan13
At d’Youville, where Thompson started his high school basketball career, the 25 year old had his jersey retired. Thompson joked having his jersey raised to the rafters made him feel old.
“Time goes by fast, but it was definitely an honour to have that banner up there,” said Thompson. “I’m just a kid from Brampton living the dream.”
After stopping by d’Youville Thompson made his way over to the Brampton Soccer Centre where he was presented with a Key to the City by Brampton City Councillor Gurpreet Dhillon. Thompson also got a chance to meet and talk with children enrolled in Summer Programs.
When asked about what advice he could give to young Canadians who were following him in the trail he helped blaze in basketball, Thompson instructed the young men and women to be patient and protect their best interests.
“Take your time, and make the best decision for yourself,” said Thompson. “I know as young kids, they have a lot of mentors, parents and coaches, but at the end of they you have to make the best decision for yourself. Take your time, and at the end of the day work hard, and don’t lose focus.”
After leaving d’Youville, Thompson moved to New Jersey to attend Saint Benedict’s Prep, and then again to Nevada to attend Findlay Prep, where he graduated and joined the University of Texas Longhorns alongside friend and teammate Corey Joseph.
Joseph and Thompson now help form the core of the Canadian Senior Men’s National Team, and the newly-minted NBA Champion says his next goal is qualifying the Canadian Men for the Olympics.
“We just got to keep getting better, when we have the opportunity to come together, that’s important. The next goal for myself and the other young Canadians is to qualify for the Olympics, and medalling. I think we have the talent, and the young guys to do it. Now we just have to come together and make it happen.”
