Klay Thompson didn’t want a spectacle to surround his return to San Francisco Tuesday night, but the Warriors felt a need to do something special to honor their longtime star, writes Sam Amick of The Athletic. That included having about 400 team employees lined up to cheer for him when the Mavericks‘ bus arrived at the arena and passing out captain’s hats to all fans in attendance in honor of Thompson’s love of sailing. There was also a video tribute, but a planned Stephen Curry pre-game speech was discarded by mutual agreement of the Splash Brothers.
“It was a really cool experience,” Thompson told reporters after the game. “I appreciate the fans very much. The captain’s hat ended up being a great touch, since I’m such a passionate boater. I saw a lot of familiar faces in the crowd. That was a warm-hearted feeling. So it was really cool to see fans with gratitude towards myself, and it’s something I won’t take for granted. It’s very, very awesome. It was a cool moment to feel the energy from the fans, and especially, you know, all the chatter that I heard — it was all positive. (That) just means a lot to myself, because I really enjoyed my time here and … left it all out on the floor.”
League sources told Amick that Thompson was requesting a more subdued tribute, which is an acknowledgement that his 13 years with the Warriors didn’t end on the best of terms. The organization was reluctant to commit another large, long-term contract to Thompson, who will turn 35 later this season, forcing him to consider his options in free agency. Amick reports that some people close to Thompson were hoping the team employees wouldn’t greet him when he arrived, but he was thankful after it happened.
“That was really cool,” he said. “I’m very grateful for the employees to give me that kind of love. Totally unexpected, and definitely put a smile on my face. It’s something I’ll never forget.”
There’s more on the Warriors:
- Thompson had been Curry’s teammate since entering the league, so he had never been the victim of one of the two-time MVP’s late-game scoring sprees, notes Kendra Andrews of ESPN. It happened Tuesday as Curry scored 12 of his game-high 37 points in the final four minutes to help Golden State pull out a victory. “It hurts to be on the other side of one of his flurries,” Thompson said. “Guy got hot at the end and made some ridiculous shots. I know I’ve been on the other end, and it sucks.”
- Amid all the emotion of Thompson’s return, Ron Kroichick of The San Francisco Chronicle believes the Warriors made a responsible decision by letting him go. Kroichick contends that the team needed to get younger, quicker and better on defense after falling in the play-in tournament last season. Instead of increasing their offer to Thompson, they were able to pursue trades for Paul George and Lauri Markkanen before ultimately adding De’Anthony Melton and Buddy Hield, who have both been productive.
- Golden State has survived losing Thompson by leaning more on younger players such as Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody and Trayce Jackson-Davis, per Spencer Davies of Responsible Gambler. “Now it’s just the coaches trust in us a little bit more to go out there, to be you and be free,” Kuminga said. “I think that’s what it is. At this point, they’re leaning on us, and they’re really believing in us and letting us go out there and play.”
Waiting for the hater to start hating.
The whole evening could not have gone better.
It brought the best out of everyone, completely genuine.
Klay played his best game of season, and GSW won.
Speech by Steph was not needed. Less was more.
Another great Warriors article Arthur. You lay out the current pulse of Golden State basketball, plus summarized last night very well.
As Ari says above, the night couldn’t have gone any better. Fuzzy feelings all around. Now let’s see if the Warriors can go 9-2 in the next 11 games.
Gary, does GSW pull Podz out the rotation now? He has zero offensive profile, they told him to shoot more 3’s and he has opened 8 for 41, 19.5%. Not gunna cut it. I have no idea why Kerr loves Podz so much, he so is NOT “Him” he doesnt have the energy, he has GP2 energy, who isnt a starter or big mins guy. But Kerr always finds time for him, unlike every other rookie he has ever had. Podz literally almost cost us the game last night, if he didnt play, this is a blowout. Just looks lost on both sides, and he is purely awful to watch.
Whatever it is you don’t like about Moody, Podz is much, much worse. Aside from running the point, Moody outperforms Podz at every aspect of the game.
Podski is going through a little sophomore slump, that’s all. I think his minutes have gone down if I’m reading the box scores correctly? There’s a lot of guys vying for minutes so if he doesn’t play well he’ll definitely sit.
It’s Nice seeing Gary Payton getting some run even though he’s way down in the pecking order. Kerr is still finding him minutes here and there.
But it’ll all shake out after a few months. As long as Melton stays healthy they won’t have to rely on Brandin to handle the ball. So I think he’ll probably play less if he’s not doing well.
I don’t get Davey’s problem with Podz. Podz is in 3rd different offensive system in 18 months. He went from small college ball to the pros. As a PG, he has a whole new group of guys that he has to learn. That is a lot of adjustment. He does need to work on his shooting. But, it hasn’t affected his overall game. He is putting up better numbers than Moody.
Podz is not the problem, Davey J is
3 THINGS STEVE KERR HAS SAID 2x THIS WEEK
——————————————
1. Melton, now healthy, is our starting SG
2. JK to come off bench, but play significant minutes
3. Our bench/rotation is shortening
——————————————
My take: we entered a new phase with Melton’s first starting, beginning at OKC. Melton is taking minutes from GP2, Podz, Moody, and Hield. Kuminga is taking still more minutes from Moody. Against good teams, Steph, Draymond, and Wiggs will play BIG minutes. The depth helps with injuries, but we’ll be using it less.
For each player, here are minutes from last 3 games against BOS, OKC, & DAL. Note that Melton missed BOS, and everything seemed to change with OKC.
TIER I: > 30 mins
1. Steph: 34, 37, 35
2. Wiggins: 31, 35, 34
3. Draymond: 30, 31, 32
TIER II: > 22 mins every game
4. Melton: out, 27, 26
5. Kuminga: 16, 26, 28
TIER III: > 15 mins every game
6. Hield: 29, 21, 21
7. Looney: 18, 16, 15
8. Podz: out, 15, 17
TIER IV: (minutes vary by game)
9. TJD: 16, 5, 14
10. Anderson: 20, 20, out
11. Moody: 17, 11, 12
12. GP2: 18, 12, 7
Klay is hurting the Mavs the same way he hurt the Warriors. He needs to accept “Ray Allen” type of role.
Kidd is hurting the Mavs. Why play Luka 41 minutes and tire him out in the 4th quarter. Their bench was playing well last night. Luka also hurt the team insisting he didn’t foul when he got all arm. They could have used the challenge later on a bad foul call.
Honestly says a lot Klay wanted to play for Kidd and with Kyrie. Head cases, all
Doncic has a different take on it. But, what does Luka know. He’ll probably be out of the league this time next year.
I was not into the group gang slurp of Klay last night, it definitely energized him all throughout the game, it felt like the crowd was just there to see him! Too far imo if it effects the game the other way! Thank the hoop gods for Wardell Jr. though!
Should have been an offseason “Klay day” for his fans to geek out and celebrate his Warriors run, with due respect!
Listen to Greens podcast about being locked into the game for him and Curry. They were not effected by the klay day.
Gary said
> let’s see if Warriors can go 9-2 in the next 11 games
It’ possible! We’re healthy, 11 opponents not so much.
MEM (Ja, Bane, Smart out)
@LAC
ATL
@NOL (missing 6 rotation players)
@SA
BKL
OKC (Holmgren, Hartenstein out)
@PHO (KD likely out)
@DEN (AGordon likely out)
HOU
MIN
Their record after 20 games isn’t really that important. All that matters right now is that they find their chemistry, their weaknesses and figure out how to overcome them. It is more important how they finish.
Both matter. You can’t clinch a playoff spot early, but you can absolutely lose one. Sorting out their chemistry and finding their stride is the priority, but you cannot let wins against easy or depleted opponents slip away.
Moody needs to play more….if Podz has to sit….so be it……Moody’s all around game is superior to that of Podz..
Bizarre statement. How is Moody’s game superior? Why would Podz’s playing time effect Moody’s? They play different positions.