This Christmas Day matchup between the Golden State Warriors and the Dallas Mavericks isn’t just another game on the NBA calendar - it’s a reunion of sorts, one that carries a heavy dose of nostalgia and emotion for Warriors fans. At the heart of it is Stephen Curry, who recently opened up about his longtime backcourt partner, Klay Thompson, and the possibility - however slim - of bringing him back to the Bay.
In a candid moment outside the Warriors’ locker room, Curry spoke with ESPN and didn’t hold back when asked about Thompson’s departure and what a reunion might look like.
“I wish he was still here,” Curry said. “It would be unbelievable.
If that time comes and that conversation is had, of course I’m calling him and saying, ‘We want you back.’ And hopefully that would be a welcome message to him.
But as we stand right now, that does seem like a far distant reality. But so did him leaving.”
That’s the thing about the NBA - the only constant is change. But for a duo like Steph and Klay, who spent 13 seasons lighting up the league together, change doesn’t come without a few emotional ripples.
Four championships, countless deep playoff runs, and a legacy as one of the most dangerous shooting tandems in league history - the Splash Brothers weren’t just a product of their environment. They were the environment.
Even with Thompson now wearing a different jersey, the connection clearly hasn’t faded. Curry’s comments weren’t just wistful; they were honest, revealing just how much that bond still means to him. And while a reunion might not be in the cards right now, it’s clear that door isn’t fully closed - at least not in Steph’s mind.
Meanwhile, the Warriors are navigating their own crossroads. Sitting at 13-14 and clinging to the eighth seed in the Western Conference, the team is searching for stability and answers. And that search has brought another core piece into the spotlight: Draymond Green.
Trade rumors have started to swirl around Green, with reports suggesting the Warriors could be willing to move him in pursuit of a superstar-caliber player. That’s no small thing, especially considering how central Green has been to the Warriors’ identity - defensively, emotionally, and as a facilitator in their free-flowing offense.
Warriors insider Monte Poole recently addressed the chatter, pointing out that any decision involving Green would likely have to go through one key filter: Steph Curry.
“Would they get to a point where they trade or think about trading Jimmy Butler or Draymond Green? Yeah, they could,” Poole said.
“I would say that I’m sure it’s crossed their minds. And the thing is, you know how Steph is.
He likes what he likes, and he likes Draymond being on this team. They’d have to persuade him that it’s for the good of the team and the season to do this.”
That’s a critical insight. Curry isn’t just the face of the franchise - he’s its emotional compass. Any major shake-up, especially involving longtime teammates like Draymond or even the hypothetical return of Klay, would need to make sense not just on paper, but in the locker room and on the court.
So as the Warriors prepare to face the Suns in their next game, they do so with more questions than answers. Can they find their rhythm in a crowded Western Conference?
Will the front office pull the trigger on a blockbuster move? And is there still a chapter left to be written for the Splash Brothers?
One thing’s for sure: Steph isn’t just playing to win games - he’s playing to protect a legacy. And in Golden State, that legacy is built on more than just numbers. It’s built on trust, chemistry, and a belief that the right pieces - even if they’ve drifted apart - might still find their way back together.