Tristan Thompson’s role as big brother to Amari has shaped some of the most personal chapters of the NBA player’s life.
Keep scrolling for what to know about their relationship, including Tristan’s guardianship and more:
Who Is Tristan Thompson’s Brother Amari Thompson?
Amari is the youngest of Tristan’s three brothers, alongside Dishawn and Daniel. He has Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, a rare and severe form of child-onset epilepsy that causes cognitive impairment and behavior issues. Amari is unable to walk or talk, is confined to a wheelchair and experiences frequent seizures.
Tristan has spoken publicly about how Amari fuels his drive on and off the court.
“My younger brother fights each and every day. Most 16-year-olds can enjoy life and have the freedom and be able to experience things with their peers. It’s harder for him,” Tristan told NBC Sports in March 2022. “He motivates me. Why not keep working each day? There’s no reason for me not to get up and push to be not only a better basketball player but a better human being.”
How Tristan Thompson Became Amari’s Legal Guardian
Amari had been living in Canada under the care of mom Andrea Thompson, who assumed sole legal guardianship in 2014. Andrea died unexpectedly in January 2023 after suffering a heart attack.
Tristan was awarded temporary guardianship of Amari in September 2023 and moved him from Canada to Los Angeles. In February 2024 he filed a petition to become Amari’s sole legal guardian and conservator, telling the court 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 been in contact with the proposed ward or Andrea Marie Brooks since July 2014,” court documents read. Tristan revealed his only contact with his father in nine years was a brief encounter 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 Tristan sole guardianship on February 26, 2024.
Tristan Thompson’s 2026 Conservatorship Filing for Amari
In April 2026, Tristan filed to be appointed Amari’s limited conservator. The filing stated Amari “suffers from an intellectual disability and developmental delay and is unable to take care of his personal needs,” is “unable to live independently” and “unable to handle any financial transactions” by himself. The documents noted Amari “does not object to the proposed conservator.”
In California, a limited conservatorship is used for adults with developmental disabilities who need help with everyday tasks without requiring the full scope of a general conservatorship.
Khloé Kardashian’s Surprising Role as Amari’s Caretaker
Though Kardashian and Tristan split in 2021, the Good American cofounder has stayed deeply involved in Amari’s life. She’s now his primary caretaker in Los Angeles, since Tristan’s NBA travel schedule makes consistent care difficult.
“Tristan is in the NBA and he is in a different state, literally, every other day or every few days, and it’s just not conducive for Amari to be on that many planes,” Kardashian said on a July 2025 episode of her “Khloé in Wonder Land” podcast. “So Amari stays in L.A. with me and I have chosen to take care of him and be there for him because it’s not good that he travels.”
Kardashian, who shares daughter True and son Tatum with Tristan, employs two “sensational caretakers” to help. She first grew close to Amari through Andrea years ago. “Amari deserves my love and care regardless of where me and Tristan stand,” she said.
This story was compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists.
