Tristan Thompson’s 3 Brothers: All About Dishawn, Daniel and Amari

Tristan Thompson has many roles: he’s an NBA star, father of four, and proud older brother to his three younger siblings: Dishawn, Daniel, and Amari.

The Cleveland Cavaliers player is a father figure to his brothers, especially his youngest, Amari, who lives with epilepsy. After their mom, Andrea, died of a heart attack on January 5, 2023, Tristan was granted temporary legal custody of him in September. But before the unexpected loss, the athlete always put his family first.

When the Cavaliers won the NBA Championship in 2016, Tristan took the opportunity to speak to his loved ones, expressing his responsibility to take care of them.

“For me, as the older brother and kind of the pioneer of the family, I think it’s just my job to be able to provide and do whatever is needed,” he said, according to the NBA. “Not only for Amari, but for my other brothers as well just to be happy and comfortable.”

Calling Amari his “motivation,” he added that he’s “blessed to have this opportunity to be a professional athlete and have the means to take care of his family, I think it’s only right.” He continued: “I take it as a great responsibility.”

Here’s everything you need to know about Tristan Thompson’s siblings — Dishawn, Daniel and Amara — and their relationship with their athlete brother.

They grew up with hard-working parents

Tristan Thompson and his mother Andrea Thompson attend the Amara Thompson Soiree in Support of Epilepsy on August 2018 in Toronto, Canada.

George Pimentel/Getty

All four Thompson brothers were born to father Trevor, a truck driver, and mother Andrea, a school bus driver. Speaking with Toronto Star after Tristan was drafted to the NBA in 2011, she felt his work ethic was inspired by watching her and Trevor take care of their family.

“I guess he was looking after mom and dad,” she said. “We work hard. You have to work hard in life to get your blessing, everyone knows that.”

Andrea added that she “never had it easy as a child”, and Tristan intuitively knew that he would have to work hard to make his dreams come true.

“I didn’t have to say anything to Tristan to empower him. Tristan saw that we always work hard and wanted to improve,” she added.

Their mom died suddenly in 2023

Tristan Thompson poses with his mom Andrea Thompson.

Tristan Thompson’s Instagram

Andrea died unexpectedly on January 5, 2023 after suffering a heart attack while at her home in Toronto, Canada.

After her death, Tristan paid an emotional tribute to his mother on Instagram. “Dearest mom in heaven, it’s been a month since you’ve been gone. I’m in disbelief,” Thompson wrote alongside a series of photos of his mom, including one of his brothers and another with ex Khloé Kardashian.

“All the sacrifices you made for your sons will never go unnoticed or unappreciated,” he added. “You were an amazing mom, role model, best friend and the strongest woman I know.”

His brother Dishawn also mourned their mother on Instagram, sharing pictures of her over the years.

“Mom was an angel on earth, so I can only imagine what you are in heaven. I promise to keep your name strong like the warrior you are,” he wrote. “Thank you for giving me my brothers Tristan, Daniel, Amari. I couldn’t have asked for better brothers💙.”

His youngest brother, Amari, has epilepsy

Tristan Thompson poses with his younger brother Amari Thompson at The Amari Thompson Soiree in support of Epilepsy Toronto on August 2019 in Toronto, Canada.

George Pimentel/Getty

Amari was born on July 27, 2006, and lives with a severe form of epilepsy called Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS), which leaves him wheelchair-bound and requiring 24-hour support, Khloé explained to The Kardashians.

The brothers temporarily moved in with her after Tristan’s roof collapsed during extreme weather. Amari spent time with his niece and nephew, True and Tatum, who Tristan and Khloé share. She was involved in his daily care even though they are no longer in a relationship.

Tristan is Amara’s legal guardian

Andrea Thompson, Tristan Thompson and Amari Thompson attend the Amari Thompson Soiree in Support of Epilepsy Toronto on August 9, 2018 in Toronto, Canada.

George Pimentel/Getty

After Andrea’s death, Tristan became Amari’s primary caregiver. On September 8, 2023, the athlete filed to become the sole legal guardian of his brother.

In court documents obtained by PEOPLE, he claimed that their father, Trevor, has been absent from Amari’s life since 2014, and he is his brother’s closest living family member with the means to provide the necessary care.

A few weeks later, he was granted temporary custody of Amari. Now the athlete and the teenager live together in Hidden Hills, California.

Tristan is an epilepsy awareness advocate

Tristan Thompson with mom Andrea and brother Amari.

Tristan Thompson’s Instagram

In honor of his brother, Tristan established The Amari Thompson Fund in 2013 to raise support for others struggling with epilepsy. The Foundation supports Epilepsy Toronto, helping to fund educational programs as well as counseling and support services for children living with epilepsy and their families.

He made a video together with his mom and Amari, in which they explain the motivation behind the goal. In the clip, he says that “every athlete has something or someone that pushes them to push their limits. For me, it’s my younger brother Amari.”

In March 2022, Tristan once again shined a light on epilepsy awareness, teaming up with the Epilepsy Foundation to sell his signed Bulls jersey and pair of sneakers in a raffle to raise money for the foundation, according to NBC Sports Chicago.

“My younger brother fights every day. Most 16-year-olds can enjoy life and have the freedom and ability to experience things with their peers. It’s more difficult for him,” said Tristan at the raffle.

The athlete continued: “He motivates me. Why not keep working every day? There’s no reason not to get up and push myself to be not only a better basketball player, but a better human being.”

Daniel and Dishawn also played basketball

Tristan Thompson with his mom Andrea and his siblings: Dishawn, Daniel and Amari.

Tristan Thompson’s Instagram

As Tristan rose to fame in his early 20s for his prowess on the court, he inspired his younger brothers to do the same. Daniel won the 2015 U-11 championship in Canada, while Dishawn operated as a combo guard for Northeast Junior College in Nebraska, according to the NBA.

Daniel mostly stayed out of the spotlight

Tristan Thompson and his brother Daniel take a selfie in the car.

Tristan Thompson’s Instagram

The third of four boys, Daniel kept his life out of the public eye. Tristan shared a rare story about his little brother on Mother’s Day in 2020 in honor of Andrea in the video for LeBron James’ Uninterrupted brand.

In it, he and Andrea talked about a family moment that was deeply remembered because he realized how far their mom was willing to go for them.

He explained that Andrea was driving him to the tournament when his brother got a little nervous. “Daniel was crying and wouldn’t stop, so I think he was hungry,” Tristan recalled. Andrea reported that she started breastfeeding her younger son in the middle of a blizzard.

“To see her do that and just be a warrior and a champion and how much she was willing to sacrifice for me to come to that tournament so I could go play and do something I love — I mean, it just shows her love and passion for her kids,” Tristan said.

Dishawn is a rapper

Tristan Thompson and his brother Dishawn pose for a photo together.

Tristan Thompson on Facebook

Four years younger than Tristan, Dishawn was born on May 4, 1995 and is a rising rapper who goes by the name “Young Early”.

He has released several songs in the past year, releasing a song dedicated to his late mother, “Dear Momma,” two months after her death. Dishawn also dropped a single along with a music video called “In My Ways”.

For years, Tristan had been handing out sweet tributes to his brother to celebrate his birthday, thinking about how quickly time had flown by.

“It feels like yesterday you were running around the house in diapers watching cartoons,” he wrote on Instagram for the artist’s 19th birthday in 2014. “Time flies and you grow up fast. Keep up the hard work bro, I love you.”

Three years later, he posted another birthday message to his “little brother” alongside a photo of them posing together.

Dishawn is the dad

Dishawn is the father of a son, Elijah Amar’a Thompson, whom he welcomed with his partner Lea on March 4, 2022.

“Mom and Dad are so grateful to experience every milestone you’ve achieved together as a family and we can’t wait to see you grow into the young king we’re raising you to be,” she wrote on Instagram to celebrate their son’s first birthday.

Lea also has an older son named Jeremiah Andrew Douglas from a previous relationship.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education