Klay Thompson gave props to former head coach Mark Jackson during a recent interview. The Golden State Warriors is getting ready to return to the court, making significant progress to meet his goal. Meanwhile, he keeps training, taking shots, and giving interviews.
During Friday night’s game, the shooting guard had the chance to talk with his first coach in the NBA, praising him for believing in him and Stephen Curry when nobody else did, predicting what was coming for the Warriors.
Thompson talked with Mark Jackson, who coached him from 2011 through 2014, thanking him for being supportive since day one, calling him and Steph ‘the greatest backcourt in the history of the game.’
“Give Coach Jackson credit,” said Thompson. “Before anybody else, [before] anybody believed in us, Coach Jackson did. He called me and Steph [Curry] the greatest shooting duo of all-time. I mean, that couldn’t have come more true. Just kind of a testament to your ability to read the game. They called you crazy, but at the time …”
Klay showing respect for Mark Jackson. ✊
(via @notgswchris)
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) November 6, 2021
Back in 2013, when the Warriors were just a promising team, Jackson saw something special in his players. The former point guard called them the greatest backcourt the game has ever seen, which raised plenty of eyebrows at the time.
“In my opinion, they’re the greatest shooting backcourt in the history of the game,” Jackson said, via Mercury News.
Eight years after those claims, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are big legends in the game. They changed the way basketball is played right now thanks to their 3-point talents.
After the 2013/14 season, Jackson left the Warriors, but that team was ready to take the next step and start winning championships. That’s what happened when Steve Kerr took over, making this team a dynasty, going to five consecutive Finals, winning three championships.
The Splash Brothers are a big deal in the NBA right now. Even though we haven’t seen them together since 2019, Klay and Steph look like a dangerous duo for the rest of the association. Golden State ranks 2nd in the Western Conference, boasting a 7-1 record. Once they get Klay back, it’ll be scary hours for the rest of the league.