Golden State Warriors Power Forward Draymond Green recently recalled an awkward encounter with Dallas Mavericks Shooting Guard Klay Thompson. Green, 34, knows Thompson, 34, well enough to know when his former Warriors teammate is joking — and when he’s not. Green’s a man of many words, but his recent appearance as himself on his show “The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis” was attention-grabbing.
For some context, Baron Davis is a former NBA point guard best known for playing on the “We Believe” Golden State Warriors team from 2006 to 2007. The “We Believe” Warriors team finished the 2006-07 NBA regular season with a 42-40 record, upset the No. 1 seed Dallas Mavericks and NBA MVP Dirk Nowitzki and lost to the Utah Jazz in five games in the Western Conference Semifinals.
Green and Davis, 45, never played as Golden State Warriors teammates but appear to get along on Green’s show. They often give the general public their instant reactions to NBA games after they end and much more. The basketball podcast is arguably one of the best today, so if you missed the latest episode, please read on for further details surrounding Green’s recent recollection of Thompson.
Draymond Green Recalls
Draymond Green and Klay Thompson spent 12 seasons together as Golden State Warriors teammates in Oakland and San Francisco before Thompson joined the Dallas Mavericks in free agency and became part of the Mavericks “Big Three” alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Thompson’s departure was difficult to comprehend for most, if not, all Warriors fans, as they’ve grown accustomed to seeing Thompson in a No. 31 Warriors jersey.
Thompson still wears a No. 31 jersey, but a Mavericks one. The 34-year-old reportedly wanted a change of scenery. Dallas, Texas, has been appearing to do the trick after a disastrous final few years in Golden State due to injuries and inconsistencies. Though it’s too early to tell if the Washington State alum will work wonders in Dallas and help the Mavericks repeat a run to the NBA Finals, the talent remains.
Green brought up an offseason encounter he and his trainer, Travis Walton, had with Thompson while working out at the same gym in a recent episode of “The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis.” The Michigan State alum also explained what might’ve been perceived as “friendly banter” quickly became much more. Like, say, unfriendly trash talk.
Green said on his show, “I’m working out this summer, and Dallas comes in … Kyrie (Irving), Klay (Thompson), and a couple other guys come in after I finish my workout. And I had to run that day cause I had Pilates right after. So as soon as I finished, I cut. And I didn’t get to see Klay, but I had saw some of the other guys. And then Trav saw Klay come in, and Trav was talking to Kyrie. And Klay walks up to Ky like, ‘Ky, don’t be talking to the opps.’ So then Trav (Travis Walton) came and told me that Klay said that, and he was like, ‘You think he was 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 working out and they come in again after me. And I’m talking to Ky (Kyrie Irving), And (Klay Thompson) walks up like, ‘Ky, you talking to the opps (opponents)?’ And I said, ‘Yep, Trav (Travis Walton), there’s definitely some seriousness to it. He just said the same thing to me.'”
Green’s Memories
Draymond Green and Klay Thompson go way back, as they joined the Golden State Warriors a year apart. Thompson joined the Warriors in 2011 and Green entered Golden State in 2012. Thompson’s childhood was spent in Los Angeles, California, and Lake Oswego, Oregon, with Thompson becoming childhood friends with fellow future NBA star Kevin Love in Lake Oswego after playing in the Little League together. Meanwhile, Green was born and raised in Saginaw, Michigan, and attended Saginaw High School and Michigan State University.
Green’s memories of Thompson have been mentioned in the national and local media in recent months. Green had reportedly never known Thompson to make “small talk” with him. Green and Stephen Curry reflected on life without Thompson, especially Curry since the duo were known as the “Splash Brothers” for their abilities to make it rain with three-pointers.
Green and the Opps
Klay Thompson can be described as a competitor at heart. Although Thompson cherishes his 13 years in the Bay Area with the Golden State Warriors, he now stays true to his current team, the Dallas Mavericks, as he appears to attempt to achieve a redemption season as a “Big Three” member with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving in Dallas, Texas. As of right now, everyone else — even Green and the Warriors whom he built a lasting legacy — are the “opps” as in opposition.
