Irrespective of what the Golden State Warriors say about competing against Klay Thompson, nothing can remove the history made between the Splash Brothers and Draymond Green.
Stephen Curry and Green recently discussed their mixed emotions regarding Thompson’s exit. The vibe seems in part more of a funeral than a celebration for the start of the 2024-25 season.
“[Klay] would usually enter the practice facility coming off of his boat,” Curry told ESPN.
“With his Dockers on, whatever outfit he had on. He just had a presence about him, a lightness when he came in the room. And his one-liners were always great. … [I’m] talking about him like he died, [which is] super weird.”
For Curry and Green to ignore the history and emotions of the successes and failures would be to spit in the face of the championships won and lessons learned in losses. However, as they know, it was business, not personal.
Green claimed to know Thompson’s destination a week before free agency commenced. According to Green, Thompson called him, which is not something he’s accustomed to doing. Thompson, on the phone, “rambling,” triggered an idea in Green’s head.
“He gone,” Green told his wife, Hazel.
“He didn’t say nothing yet. But he gone.”
Ultimately, Thompson reached his point of the phone call, but first, he made sure to reminisce on the history made through the blood, sweat, and tears of the dynastic trio.
Thomspon then cut to the chase, informing Green he would be leaving the Warriors in free agency. Naturally, Green questioned where, with Thompson simply answered, “Texas.”
However, regardless of what Green claims to have known, the pain of losing a teammate of 11 seasons cuts to the core, especially as they created a dynasty together.
History aside, the future moves on whether you do or not. When the Warriors host the Dallas Mavericks on Nov. 12, expect tears shed and hugs had, but no soft treatment of Curry and Green’s former teammate.