Understanding Tristan Thompson’s Relationship with His Brother Amari
Tristan Thompson’s role as an older brother to Amari has significantly influenced many personal moments in the NBA player’s journey.
Continue reading to learn about their bond, including Tristan’s guardianship and more:
Who Is Tristan Thompson’s Brother Amari Thompson?
Amari is the youngest sibling among Tristan’s three brothers, alongside Dishawn and Daniel. He has been diagnosed with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, a rare and severe type of childhood epilepsy that leads to cognitive challenges and behavioral issues. Due to his condition, Amari cannot walk or talk, relies on a wheelchair, and experiences frequent seizures.
Tristan has openly expressed how Amari motivates him both on and off the basketball court.
“My younger brother fights each and every day. Most 16-year-olds can enjoy life and have freedom to experience things with their peers. For him, it’s harder,” Tristan told NBC Sports in March 2022. “He inspires me to keep working every day. There’s no reason for me not to strive to be a better basketball player and a better person.”
How Tristan Thompson Became Amari’s Legal Guardian
Initially, Amari was living in Canada under the care of their mother, Andrea Thompson, who had obtained sole legal guardianship in 2014. Tragically, Andrea passed away unexpectedly in January 2023 from a heart attack.
In September 2023, Tristan was granted temporary guardianship of Amari and relocated him from Canada to Los Angeles. By February 2024, he filed a petition to become Amari’s sole legal guardian and conservator, indicating to the court that he had been unable to locate their father, Trevor Thompson.
“Since then, Trevor Douglas Thompson has effectively abandoned the proposed ward; he failed to pay any child support despite the court order and has not maintained contact with the proposed ward or Andrea Marie Brooks since July 2014,” court documents stated. Tristan noted that his only interaction with his father in the last nine years was a brief meeting at Andrea’s funeral.
“[I want] to ensure that Amari continues to have a happy and fulfilling life and to provide him with the best care possible,” Tristan wrote. The Los Angeles Superior Court granted him sole guardianship on February 26, 2024.
Tristan Thompson’s 2026 Conservatorship Filing for Amari
In April 2026, Tristan sought to become Amari’s limited conservator. The filing indicated that Amari “suffers from an intellectual disability and developmental delay and is unable to take care of his personal needs,” cannot “live independently,” and is “unable to handle any financial transactions” on his own. The documents confirmed that Amari “does not object to the proposed conservator.”
In California, a limited conservatorship is designed for adults with developmental disabilities who require assistance with daily activities without the full oversight of a general conservatorship.
Khloé Kardashian’s Surprising Role as Amari’s Caretaker
Although Kardashian and Tristan parted ways in 2021, the co-founder of Good American remains actively involved in Amari’s life. She now serves as his primary caretaker in Los Angeles, given that Tristan’s NBA commitments make regular care challenging.
“Tristan is in the NBA and literally in a different state every other day or so, which isn’t conducive for Amari to travel frequently,” Kardashian said during a July 2025 episode of her podcast “Khloé in Wonder Land.” “So, Amari stays in L.A. with me, and I’ve chosen to be there for him because it’s not ideal for him to be constantly flying.”
Kardashian, who shares daughter True and son Tatum with Tristan, employs two “wonderful caretakers” to assist. She first bonded with Amari through Andrea years ago. “Amari deserves my love and care regardless of my relationship status with Tristan,” she expressed.
This story was compiled with the assistance of AI tools and edited by journalists.
