Klay Thompson walked into Tuesday’s Bay Area homecoming calling it “just another regular season game” that he wants to win. He came away from the game filled with gratitude. And why wouldn’t he? He’s human, after all.
The Warriors went above and beyond in celebrating the legacy left behind by one of their greatest sons. Before the game, nearly 400 Warriors employees lined up to greet him in the tunnel at Chase Center. After that, Thompson received the most epic tribute video you’ll ever see, which ended with thousands of fans waving their “Captain Klay hats” in honor of an avid sailor who plays basketball in his spare time.
Even during the game, a section of Warriors fans couldn’t help but cheer when Thompson drained a game-high six threes.
The outpouring of love was too much for Thompson to ignore. After the game, he thanked a fan base that will forever revere him for bringing it four NBA titles and a lifetime of memories.
“It was a really cool experience. I appreciate the fans very much,” Thompson said, via The Athletic’s Anthony Slater. “The captain’s hat ended up being a great touch because I’m such a passionate boater. I saw a lot of familiar faces in the crowd, that was a warm-hearted feeling. It was really cool to see the fans send gratitude towards myself. It’s something I won’t ever take for granted. It was very awesome.”
Earlier in the presser, the five-time All-Star said it was “unexpected” to see hundreds of Golden State employees greet him with captain’s hats in the tunnel. He offered “kudos” to the organization for appreciating his contributions to the franchise.
Did the Warriors make amends?
Thompson’s comments hinted at his stint with the Warriors not ending on the best of terms. According to multiple insiders, he didn’t leave the organization due to a dispute over pay but instead over frustrations with how he was used in the 2023-24 season.
The sharpshooter came off the bench for the first time since his sophomore year and struggled to find his rhythm. He wrapped up his Warriors stint with arguably the worst night of his career, going 0-of-10 from the field in a play-in loss to the Kings. Ultimately, he inked a three-year, $50 million deal with the Mavericks when he could have signed a more lucrative contract with the Warriors, per multiple insiders.
Perhaps the Warriors wanted to make amends for how things ended. They may have also opened the door for Thompson, 34, to potentially return to the franchise before calling time on his career. Golden State has already retired his No. 11 jersey and plans to erect a statue in his honor after he hangs it up.