If there was any doubt that Klay Thompson would get a warm welcome in his return to the Bay Area, his walk through the tunnel showed it should be a night full of ovations.
A nattily dressed Thompson entered the Chase Center for the first time as a visiting player, hours before his Dallas Mavericks played the Golden State Warriors Tuesday night. He was met by a human tunnel of supporters, cheering Thompson from both sides and waving captain’s hats, a tribute to his love of boating and the ocean.
Thompson’s departure from the team — with whom he played the first 13 years of his NBA career and won four titles — was tinged with bitterness. He lost his starting spot temporarily last season, when Thompson was reportedly “miserable.” When the Warriors asked Thompson to wait for them to conduct other offseason trades, the player who’s made the sixth-most three-pointers in NBA history headed out of town.
But while there may be bad feelings between Thompson and the Warriors organization, those don’t seem to extend to Warriors employees or players. The Warriors made a heartfelt video thanking Thompson for all his contributions to their four titles and expressing how much they missed him in advance of the game.
Of course, their affection for Thompson only went so far. Gary Payton II concluded his message by informing Thompson, “Unfortunately, I gotta kick your a– tonight.” Trayce Jackson-Davis said, “I hope you have an off night shooting.”
Kevon Looney encapsulated the team’s feelings best. “Good luck,” the veteran center said, adding, “I’m going to foul you.”
The Warriors are thrilled to see Thompson return. But they’ll be even more thrilled if he and the Mavericks lose Tuesday.
