At the end of the night, Stephen Curry shook his head in disbelief. “I couldn’t imagine a better night all the way around,” he said. For the Warriors and their fans, Tuesday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks was anything but “just another regular season game in November.” It was a highly anticipated homecoming for beloved Warriors star Klay Thompson, who spent 13 seasons with the team and was instrumental in four championship runs.
Welcomed With Open Arms
Even before stepping off the Mavericks bus, Thompson sensed the emotion of the night. Waiting to greet him in the loading dock and all the way up the ramp to the visiting locker room was a receiving line of about 400 Warriors employees, all wearing boat captain hats, cheering and applauding “Captain Klay.”
“It was a reception unlike any other for a returning player who had left of his own choosing,” noted Warriors head coach Steve Kerr. “Some of Thompson’s own teammates, who walked up the ramp with him, could attest to that: Boston treats Kyrie Irving as a villain.” Oklahoma City fans, dressed in cupcake outfits, greeted Thompson’s former teammate Kevin Durant with ruthless booing.
An Unforgettable Ovation
As Thompson, donning a Dallas No. 31 jersey, led his team onto the floor for pregame introductions, the arena was brimming with fans donning captain’s hats, which were the night’s giveaways. They cheered every shot he made in the warmups. When asked to tip their hats to Thompson, the crowd stood, cheered, and waved their hats. Thompson put his palms together in thanks, bowed, and finally—as the ovation continued—pounded his heart. “This is different,” Kerr said. “It’s more of a thank you. And goodbye.”
The pregame tribute video only added to the emotion of the night, condensing Thompson’s career from draft day through championships and ending with the words, “Thank you, #11. Thank you, Game 6. Thank you, Captain. Thank you, Splash Brother. Thank you, Klay.”
A Bittersweet Homecoming
On the court, Thompson was fantastic, with six 3-pointers, including one that prompted him to do what was—according to Draymond Green—a “terrible” Curryesque shimmy. But it was Curry who led his team to victory with 37 points, including scoring the Warriors’ final 12. “I didn’t know if I wanted to go over and say hi,” Curry admitted.
“It was like being on the black top at recess without a plan.” In the end, the night belonged to Curry and the Warriors, who rallied late to earn a 120-117 victory. But for Thompson, it was still a night he’ll never forget. “It was a really cool experience,” he said. “I appreciate the fans very much… It really put a smile on my face.”
A Lasting Legacy
As Kerr eloquently put it, Thompson is “one who hangs four banners and does it in a way that captures the hearts of fans.” His combination of skill, commitment, and competitive spirit forged an unbreakable bond with the Bay Area. “It’s not just the skill, not just the commitment to the organization or the competitive desire; there’s just an aura about him that connected fans to him right away,” Kerr said.
Thompson’s legacy in Golden State will endure, even as he embarks on the next chapter of his career with the Mavericks. The thunderous ovations, the emotional tributes, and the unshakable adoration of Dub Nation will ensure that Klay Thompson’s return to Chase Center was a night that will live on in infamy.
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