‘Salute Captain Klay’: How Warriors will honor the return of a franchise icon originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The return of Klay Thompson to Chase Center on Tuesday when the Warriors welcome home the franchise icon in their game against the Dallas Mavericks will be full of smiles, tears and a standing ovation. It will also feature a special Golden State groove that perfectly suits Thompson’s unique persona off the court.
The Warriors will literally tip their cap to Klay – a captain’s hat to be exact. Thompson’s first match back in the Bay is called “Salute Captain Klay” for an interactive experience that all of Dub Nation can participate in.
Each fan will receive a captain’s hat with the Warriors logo in honor of Thompson’s love for the water as he often commuted to home games and practices in his beloved fishing boat.
During pregame player introductions, Thompson will be announced last in the Mavericks’ starting lineup, and as part of the Warriors’ tribute video, which will last about a minute, his fellow Splash Brother Steph Curry will wear the same cap that those in attendance will have , taking his as an invitation for all 18,000 fans to join in saluting the Bay Area’s favorite captain, forever and ever.
Curry will also be at center court after the video ends to share his thanks to his longtime teammate and welcome him back in front of Dub Nation.
“With Klay, it’s not the records or championships or clutch shots that stand out most from the last 13 years – it’s the truly unique relationship he’s developed with the Bay Area and our fans,” said Warriors President and Chief Operating Officer Brandon Schneider. team press release. “He embraced Dub Nation and Dub Nation embraced him back. Warriors fans laughed, cried, cheered and celebrated with him, and it’s only fitting that they have a chance to show their love and greet him in his return to the Bay Area.”
Talks about how best to honor Thompson have been going on within the Warriors’ brass for months. The decision to incorporate the captain’s hat was a collaboration between the marketing and PR teams, although Kimberly Trinidad, Warriors VP of Marketing & Operations, specifically suggested the hat.
“We loved everything about this,” Schneider said Friday in a video conference call with Warriors beat reporters. “As authentic as it is, we think fans are going to really like these hats. It’s going to be a really cool thing in the arena. The tip of the cap in the arena is going to be incredible, but this is the kind of thing that I think fans are going to have this in his house or his office, because this really great thing that means this era and what Klay Thompson meant to our franchise and to all of us as people.”
Thompson was selected #11 overall by the Warriors in the 2011 NBA Draft. Being named First Team All-Rookie was the start to an illustrious career in a Warriors jersey. The four-time champion was named an All-Star five times and twice made the All-NBA team, as well as the 2018-19 All-Defensive team. In his 13-year career with the Warriors where two-plus seasons were taken up by leg injuries, Thompson averaged 19.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 45.3 percent overall and 41.3 percent behind the 3-point line.
Anonymous as one of the greatest shooters in NBA historyThompson had many unforgettable shooting moments in a Warriors jersey, including making a record 14 3-pointers in one game, having a 37-point quarter on a perfect 13 of 13 from the field and 9 of 9 on threes, just like his. 60 point game in just 29 minutes.
He finished his Warriors career second in franchise history with 2,481 3-pointers and was fourth in 3-point percentage, and is currently sixth on the NBA’s all-time 3-point list with 2,508 and counting.
Known as “Game 6 Klay” as one of his many memorable nicknames, Thompson’s then-NBA playoff record of making 11 3-pointers as part of his 41-point night against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6 of the 2016- dated Western Conference finals forever. will be remembered in franchise and NBA history. Thompson is the Warriors’ all-time leader in playoff minutes and games played, and ranks second in playoff points and 3-pointers, is third in blocked shots and steals, fourth in assists and fifth in rebounds.
The Warriors have already announced his number 11 jersey will be retired at the end of his playing career.
“This may be the most emotional, impactful comeback that will ever happen,” Schneider said. “Not just for the Warriors, but for anyone, given the history he’s had.”
Tuesday night’s contest is the Warriors’ first NBA Cup game, and the team encourages fans to arrive early for the 7 p.m. PT tip-off in what should be a night everyone will remember to honor a legend.
