Draymond recalls hilariously awkward summer encounter 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 kidding — 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 2024-25 NBA season. And it didn’t take long for the trash talk and subtle jabs to fly.
Green remembered further “The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis” offseason encounter he and his strength coach Travis Walton had with Thompson while working out at the same gym, and he explained why what at first might have been perceived as polite banter quickly became much more.
“I’m working this summer, and Dallas is coming. Kyrie, Klay, and some other guys are coming after I finish my workout. And I had to run that day because I had Pilates right after. So as soon as I finished, I cut And I couldn’t see Klay but I saw some of the other guys And then Trav saw Klay come in, and Trav was talking to Kyrie, “Ky. don’t talk to the police.’ So then Trav came and told me that Klay said that, and he was like, ‘Do you think he’s serious?’ And I was like, ‘Well, it’s Klay so he’s joking — but he’s definitely serious.’
“So sure enough the next day I’m practicing and they come after me again. And I’m talking to Ky. And [Klay] walks up like, ‘Ky, are you talking to the cops?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, Trav, there’s definitely some seriousness. He just said the same thing to me.’ “
Of course, Thompson is a competitor at heart, and while he cherishes his time with the Warriors, he now remains loyal to his new squad. And everyone else — yes, even the team he cemented a legacy with — is the “opps.”
Later in the offseason, Green previewed the first match against Thompson and the Mavericks.
“I’m running through his chest,” Green claimed before stating that he would “of course” send some trash talk Thompson’s way.
Green later explained on his podcast that Thompson’s “opps” comments are what resulted Green’s physical predictionjoking that he didn’t go through his chest at first but now plans to do just that.
“Obviously everybody loves Klay, but to love Klay is to know he’s going to come in there trying to kill us,” Green concluded.
As Green said, it’s all love between Thompson and the Warriors. And that will be prevalent Tuesday night inside Chase Center when the Warriors welcome “Captain Klay” back with a special tribute planned.
