Golden State Warriors power forward Draymond Green is no stranger to the spotlight. But, as of late, Green had some interesting words about his former teammate Klay Thompson, a shooting guard and power forward who signed a three-year, $50 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks on July 1 after 13 seasons in the Bay Area.
Green is reportedly happy Thompson joined the Mavericks as a part of their six-team sign-and-trade deal with the Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, Charlotte Hornets, Denver Nuggets, and Minnesota Timberwolves. The Mavericks’ deal was the NBA’s first six-team transaction in league history. Green’s recent words about Thompson might not be surprising, but they’ll probably be interesting, to say the least. Read on for Green’s words about Thompson, his new team, and much more.
Draymond Green Happy for Thompson’s Future
The Golden State Warriors’ world-famous dynasty broke up earlier this offseason. After 13 seasons with the Warriors, Klay Thompson reportedly left the Bay Area for a change of scenery in Dallas as one of the newest Dallas roster additions. Thompson was formerly one-half of the Splash Brothers alongside Stephen Curry.
Thompson has four championship rings to show for it, but Green recently admitted that he was happy to hear that Thompson was heading to Dallas. Green said on the Club 520 podcast, “I’m happy as hell he’s gone. The reason I’m happy he’s gone is because he wasn’t happy anymore. As a brother, I only want what’s best for you, not what’s best for me, not what’s best for this team.”
Green’s words can be interpreted in many ways, but he appeared to be genuine when he said what he said. The big man seemed to put his friend’s personal needs over their team’s needs. The two have played together for a long time, and if anyone were to know how Thompson was feeling it would be Green.
Green Disapproves of New Jersey Number
Draymond Green recently disapproved of Klay Thompson’s new jersey number with the Dallas Mavericks. Thompson’s No. 31 jersey was a no-no. Green said on the Club 520 podcast, “It’s disgusting … Somebody said to me, like, ‘Yo, [Number] 31, that’s Reggie Miller’s number’ …And I said, ‘Yeah, but he’s Klay Thompson.'”
Since new Mavericks teammate Kyrie Irving already claimed the No. 11 jersey that Thompson wore with the Warriors, Thompson’s choice of No. 31 might not be what he initially wanted, but he appeared to settle for the not-so-questionable number. He reportedly picked the number because of Reggie Miller and Festus Ezeli. Green added, “And then Festus Ezeli wore [Number] 31, and, like, Festus tried to go at me on Instagram…Like, ‘What’s wrong with [Number] 31?'”
Festus Ezeli reportedly tried to defend the shooting guard’s jersey number selection with the Mavs. Green’s take on Thompson’s No. 31 was arguably newsworthy, but a trivial issue, as the Warriors have been struggling to keep up in the Western Conference. With the loss of Klay, the struggle could be even worse next season.
It Was Only a Matter of Time
The rumor mill used to be flooded with tweets, podcasts, and articles about how Draymond Green was partially responsible for Klay Thompson’s exit. But that probably wasn’t the case, despite the fact that Green once said, “Klay [tore his ACL. They paid him $160 million.”
Green recently said on the Club 520 podcast,
We spent so much time around each other, as you know. You spend more time around these guys than you do your family. And to see him unhappy like the way I saw him unhappy last year…He was uneasy, like just bothered…To see someone who does not have a single care in the world, all of a sudden, can’t shake nothing. That bothered me.
Green appears to say that he’d rather see Thompson leave for Dallas over being bothered in the Bay Area. But Thompson’s set to play with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving as the Mavericks try to return to the 2025 NBA Finals, while the Warriors’ path remains unclear with an aging Green and Steph Curry.
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