WASHINGTON -- Sometimes being a leader means receiving a bulk of the credit when things go well. That's what happened Tuesday night. Thompson was showered with praise by teammates and coaches following a fourth consecutive double-double, a game in which he guided the Cleveland Cavaliers to a much-needed win against the Charlotte Hornets.
Other times being a leader means shouldering the blame.
That's part of Thompson's responsibility now. In a season defined by internal growth, he took a big step following Cleveland's latest double-digit defeat.
"I'm going to take a lot of ownership on that," Thompson told cleveland.