TORONTO — Following the Toronto Raptors’ loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic voiced his displeasure over Tristan Thompson’s late-game dunk that occurred just four seconds before the final buzzer. The Cavaliers secured a 131-108 win, and Thompson’s two-handed slam drew boos from the crowd, prompting Raptors players Scottie Barnes and Jamal Shead to confront him after the game to express their discontent.

Rajakovic criticized Thompson’s actions, stating, “What Tristan did there was no class and disrespectful. I’m not going to stand for that, for sure. I love when my team stands up for themselves. That was no class.” It was clear Rajakovic believed that Thompson’s maneuver did not reflect the sportsmanship expected in such instances.

Even Cleveland’s coach, Kenny Atkinson, found it difficult to rationalize Thompson’s choice to finish the game with a dunk, especially considering Thompson’s roots in Brampton, a suburb of Toronto. “I’m not sure what he was thinking,” Atkinson commented. “Sometimes, you’re playing the game and you just have a reaction. I know with Tristan, there’s no bad intention there. I think sometimes, you’re in the moment, and your instinct is to score. Unfortunate.”

After the game, Barnes chose to refrain from making a statement on the incident, while Shead echoed the sentiments of their coach, expressing that Thompson’s actions felt disrespectful not only to the Raptors but to the essence of basketball itself. “What he did at the end of the game was just a little bit disrespectful to the game of basketball, not just us,” Shead reflected. “We had a couple of choice words. We’re adults; we’ll move on from it.”

Tristan Thompson, a veteran of 14 years in the NBA, has represented Canada on various international stages, including qualifying events for the 2019 FIBA World Cup. He later became a U.S. citizen in 2020, adding another layer to his complex identity within basketball.

RJ Barrett, a fellow Canadian and Toronto native, supported the feelings of his teammates regarding Thompson’s dunk. “It’s kind of an unwritten rule to not do that at the end,” Barrett remarked. “Jamal did what he’s supposed to.” This incident highlights the intensity and complexities of rivalries in the NBA, showing that emotions can run high even in moments of celebration.