What Klay Draymond said in emotional conversation before Warriors departure originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The Warriors’ dynastic trio of Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson were split on Monday when the latter joined the Dallas Mavericks in NBA free agency.
While it wasn’t exactly a surprise to Dub Nation after reports surfaced over the weekend that Thompson was on the verge of leaving, the four-time NBA champion let his longtime teammates know in a final, heartfelt conversation last week that he would not be returning to the Bay.
“I have to say I don’t really know how I feel about it,” Green said in his first public comments since Thompson’s departure on Tuesday’s episode of his podcast. “Klay told us last week. I don’t know who he told all of it, but I know he talked to me, I’m pretty sure he talked to Steph last week, and he just started … talking about it over the years, like, ‘[It’s] been amazing. What we did is so special. You and Steph [are] my brothers forever.’
“And the conversation just starts off as small talk, and you kind of prepare yourself, like, ‘Man, take me there. I know it’s coming.’ You enjoy the conversation, but still, it’s one of those moments where someone builds you up before they let you blow… I was on my way to my daughter’s recital, so I didn’t get to go as deep into the conversation as I maybe should have, which I think was also good for me because when Klay told me, I could just listen, and it wasn’t like, ‘Yo, we can finish this up soon’ or ‘You gotta think about this.’
“It was just like, ‘Wow, okay. Congratulations bro, I’m happy for you. That’s dope,’ to clearly reassure that [this] “It doesn’t change anything for us. It changes the basketball court, obviously, but the relationships, which are what they are, they’re forever.”
Thompson, Green and Curry created a dynasty in the Bay that will stand the test of time. And while one half of the Splash Brothers will be wearing a different uniform next season, the bond between the trio is one that will never be broken. That was evident in Thompson’s approach to informing Green of his decision in advance.
“The connection, the bond, even if we’re all mentioned together — that’s forever. That’s never going to change, but it’s — I don’t know. I haven’t really processed the feelings yet … Earlier today I think I shed a few tears, a tear or two, just sitting there and thinking.”
There are moments in life you can’t prepare for, even if you see them coming a mile away. And while Green is certainly excited for Thompson’s next step in his NBA journey, it doesn’t make his friend’s departure any easier.
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