While many fans are eagerly awaiting the highly anticipated regular-season matchup between the Dallas Mavericks and the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night, Klay Thompson doesn’t appear to share the same enthusiasm.
The Mavericks star guard recently fielded questions about his impending return to Chase Center after a historic 13-year run with the Warriors in the Bay. Thompson displayed very little emotion in the Mavs press conference and downplayed his return as “just another game.”
“It’ll be good to see people you grinded with obviously, but to me, it’s just another regular season game in November,” Thompson said. “Obviously there’s bigger implications with the NBA Cup. So that’s what’s on my mind, just to win that because I haven’t been a part of it yet.”
Asked Klay Thompson about his return to San Francisco on Tuesday for his first game against the Warriors:
— Mike Curtis (@MikeACurtis2) November 11, 2024
“It’ll be good to see people you grinded with obviously, but to me, it’s just another regular season game in November.” pic.twitter.com/Kf9KkUwfNP
He added that he didn’t think it would be difficult to compartmentalize his emotions when he enters the Warriors’ arena again. “I’ve been doing this a long time, and basketball is basketball,” said Thompson.
Thompson spent over a decade with the Warriors and won four NBA titles (as he’s never shy about telling his opponents) before joining the Mavericks this past offseason. The two-way All-Star is averaging 13.8 points per game and shooting 35.4% from beyond the arc, a slight downtick from his career average.
“I guess it’s a good thing for the fans,” Thompson said of the Warriors’ plans to honor him by giving away captain hats Tuesday night. “Kudos to them.”
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Mavericks’ Klay Thompson Had Uninspired Quote on Return Game Against Warriors.
