Draymond recalls a hilariously awkward summer meeting with Klay. Mavs originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Draymond Green knows Klay Thompson well enough to know when the former Warriors guard is joking — and when he’s not.
The two spent 12 memorable seasons together in Golden State before Thompson joined Luka Dončić, Kyrie Irving and the Dallas Mavericks in free agency before the 2024-2025 NBA season. And it didn’t take long for the trash talk and subtle jokes to start flying.
Green recalled on “The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis” an offseason meeting he and his skills trainer Travis Walton had with Thompson while training at the same gym, and he explained why what was initially seen as friendly banter soon turned into became a lot. more.
“I’m training this summer and Dallas comes in,” Green said. “Kyrie, Klay, and a few other guys came in after I finished my workout. And I had to run that day because I had Pilates right afterward. So as soon as I was done, I went to cut. And I didn’t get to see it Klay , but I had seen some other guys. And then Trav saw Klay come in, and Trav was talking to Kyrie. And Klay walked up to Ky and said, ‘Ky, don’t talk to the opponents.’ So then Trav came and told me that Klay said that, and he said, ‘Do you think he meant it?’ And I thought, ‘Well, it’s Klay, so he’s joking, but he definitely means it.’
“So sure enough, the next day I’m training and they come after me again. And I talk to Ky. And [Klay] walks up and says, “Ky, are you talking to the opps?” And I said, ‘Yes, Trav, there’s definitely some seriousness to it. He just said the same thing to me.” “
Of course, Thompson is a competitor through and through, and while he cherishes his time with the Warriors, he now remains loyal to his new team. And everyone else – yes, even the team he built a legacy with – are the “opps.”
Later in the offseason, Green previewed the first game against Thompson and the Mavericks.
“I’m running through his chest,” Green told the “Sloane Knows Podcast” at Warriors Media Day before saying he would “of course” send some trash talk to Thompson.
Green later explained on his podcast that Thompson’s “opps” comments led to Green’s physical prediction, joking that he initially wouldn’t run through his chest but now plans to do just that.
“Obviously everyone loves Klay, but loving Klay means knowing he’s coming in to kill us,” Green concluded.
As Green said, it’s all love between Thompson and the Warriors. And that will be the case Tuesday night at Chase Center, when the Warriors welcome “Captain Klay” with a specially planned tribute.
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