Klay Thompson might not be wearing a Warriors jersey anymore, but the bond he built with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green over 13 seasons-and four championships-isn’t going anywhere. Even as his role on the court has changed and his time in Golden State has come to a close, the respect he commands and the brotherhood he shares with his longtime teammates remain front and center.
Lately, Thompson’s been catching some heat from players who, frankly, haven’t earned the right to chirp at a guy with his résumé. And he’s handled it the way you’d expect from a seasoned vet-direct, composed, and with a reminder that he’s been to the mountaintop more than once.
Take his recent dust-up with Ja Morant. When Morant, currently sidelined, decided to talk from the bench, Thompson didn’t hold back.
“It’s funny to run your mouth when you’re on the bench. It’s kind of the story of his career so far, just leaving us wanting more,” Thompson said.
There was no malice-just a pointed message from a player who understands what it means to carry the weight of expectations and the responsibility that comes with stardom.
“We all want to see him out there and do his best,” Thompson added. “But he’s just been letting a lot of other stuff get in the way of that.
We need that in the NBA. We need our best players to be out there, and when you’re a star, it comes with a great responsibility.
I hate to see that go to waste.”
That’s the kind of statement that comes from experience, not ego. Thompson’s been through the wars, both on the court and through injury rehab. He knows what it takes to stay in the fight, and he’s not afraid to call it how he sees it.
But Morant wasn’t the only one taking shots. Just days later, Miami Heat rookie Myron Gardner got a little too bold in his own exchange with Thompson.
The situation didn’t escalate, thanks in part to Heat assistant coach Caron Butler, who made sure Gardner found Thompson after the game to apologize. A classy move from a veteran coach who knows the value of respect in this league.
Through it all, Thompson stood tall. He didn’t need to puff his chest or get into a shouting match-his legacy speaks louder than any trash talk. And even though he’s no longer suiting up with the Warriors, his former teammates made it clear: he’s still got backup.
Stephen Curry, who’s always been Thompson’s biggest supporter, didn’t mince words when asked about the situation. “The idea that he is carrying the Warrior success no matter what jersey he has on, I do like that part of it,” Curry said. “But I don’t like people taking shots at him when he doesn’t have that coverage and he doesn’t have his guys with him.”
That’s the heart of it. Thompson might be walking a new path, but the brotherhood forged in Golden State hasn’t faded. Curry sees it, and so does Draymond Green.
Green, never one to sugarcoat things, was just as fired up after watching Thompson go toe-to-toe with Gardner. “That’s two instances in a row I saw him arguing by himself,” Green said. “What the f***?”
That raw reaction says it all. For over a decade, these three battled side by side, building one of the greatest dynasties in NBA history. Seeing one of their own out there without that familiar support hits differently.
But if there’s one thing that’s clear, it’s that the bond between Thompson, Curry, and Green runs deeper than uniforms or box scores. They’ve been through too much together-championships, injuries, comebacks, heartbreaks-for that connection to fade.
So while Thompson might be charting a new course in his career, he’s not alone. His game still demands respect, and his brothers are still riding with him. And if anyone’s forgotten what Klay Thompson brings to the table, they’re quickly being reminded-on and off the court.