Klay doesn’t regret Steph shimmy after the signing of the Warriors star originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Klay Thompson had the toughest defensive job on the Dallas Mavericks. 120-117 loss to the warriors on Tuesday at Chase Center: former teammate and fellow Splash Brother, Steph Curry.
Because, of course, the two would be matched against each other for their first NBA game as opponents.
Thompson, who left the Warriors to join the Mavericks in the offseason, returned to Chase Center for the first time as an opponent. after an emotional pregame tributethe game turned over, and there he was, for the first time in his career, actively trying to slow Curry down.
The task was one that Thompson, speaking to reporters after the game, admitted was a surreal and fun challenge overall.
“It was fun matching up with Steph,” Thompson said. “I mean, we’ve guarded each other a lot of times in practice with Team USA camps and All-Star games, so a real competitive NBA game it was pretty surreal, but after a few minutes, it was just basketball.”
Curry (25) and Thompson (22) were neck and neck in points scored through multiple quarters before the former erupted for 12 points in the final 3:10 of the fourth quarter while the latter, for the first time in his career , was at the Curry Flurry signing reception.
“And yes, it hurts to be on the other side of one of his takeoffs,” Thompson added. “Guy got hot at the end and made some ridiculous shots. I did 1731518586 been on the other end and it sucks.
However, before Curry got the last laugh, it was Thompson who made a statement as Curry sat back and watched.
With Dallas leading the Warriors 45-41 with 6:20 left in the second quarter, Thompson knocked down his second of back-to-back 3-pointers and not-so-discreetly hit a signature Curry shimmy.
The playful jab at his former teammate was a decision he made in the heat of the moment and a move he doesn’t regret one bit.
“It was an impromptu thing, but when you feel it, you do things instinctively,” Thompson said of his shimmy. “I’ve done it before. I know Steph has done it a lot of times, so it was a fun, playful thing and he was a little surprised that I did it, but it was a great shot and I’ll probably do it again. In the future I’m playing my best good ball when I play loose.”
Curry, speaking to TNT’s Allie LaForce on the court after the game, was asked what he thought after seeing Thompson’s shimmy.
“He knows better than that,” Curry said with a laugh.
