It was a heartwarming scene in San Francisco today as Warriors legend Klay Thompson made his long-awaited return to Chase Center. After signing a 3-year, $50 million deal with the Mavericks this summer Thompson, finally played his first game against Stephen Curry and Draymond Green on his old stomping grounds.
It began with Klay’s arrival at the arena, which the Warriors made sure was special. Before the game, they equipped their staff with Klay’s signature “captain’s hat” and had them line the corridor as he made his way to the locker room.
Warriors employees welcomes back Warriors legend Klay Thompson 🔥 pic.twitter.com/OU8Cz8RliH
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) November 13, 2024
On his way in, Thompson was also greeted by a horde of loyal fans — a reminder that he’s still loved in the Bay area. Thompson was seen signing autographs with fans with Warriors jerseys just like the old days when he was winning with Curry.
All love for Klay in The Bay 🫶@KlayThompson // #MFFL pic.twitter.com/qcHeuDG1k7
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) November 13, 2024
Of course, Thompson was also given his own tribute video, which the Warriors launched during warmups, right before opening tip-off. The crowd then gave him an enormous ovation to celebrate his legendary tenure with the franchise.
Welcome back Captain Klay 🫡 pic.twitter.com/qyLpWvOg7G
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) November 13, 2024
On social media, the fans reacted as you’d expect: with high emotions as they reflected on the amazing memories that Klay has brought them.
“Klay Thompson can go to bed tonight knowing he did his job. That’s all you can ask for” wrote one fan on X.
While there was some bitterness in how Klay left, there is no doubt that the fans wanted to honor his legacy tonight and many of them set aside any grudges in order to
“Klay Thompson returns to San Francisco. I cannot ever remember an ex-Warriors player any ex-player for that matter, getting that kind of welcome from a fanbase,” read one statement from a Warriors fan. “Truly warm welcome. The love those Warriors fans gave Klay—well deserved. And real class. Those fans know what he did.”
The emotions were mostly positive tonight but there was some undeniable pressure involved with it as well. As one fan put it, it’s almost comparable to LeBron’s homecoming to Cleveland back in 2010.
“Klay Thompson coming back to Golden State as a member of the opps is almost as intense as LeBron James coming back to Cleveland as a Miami Heat lol.”
Fans were really in for a shock when Klay started guarding Curry in the first half, something nobody thought they’d be seeing this year.
“Klay Thompson on Steph Curry looks like a glitch in the Matrix,” wrote one fan on X.
Klay Thompson might be pleased with his individual performance this season but things aren’t going so great for his new team. And while the season is just beginning, tonight was more proof that Klay might have left something special behind.
“This Klay Thompson return to the Bay making me shed tears ngl I can’t believe him and Steph aren’t on the same team,” wrote a sad Warriors fan.
It was certainly an odd sight to witness Klay Thompson facing off against his former partner in crime. As the “Splash Bros.” Curry and Thompson won four championships together and changed the very foundations of the way we play the game.
So to see them on opposite sides now, competing against each other, is truly surreal and some may never get used to it. Judging by his reception tonight, Warriors fans would be open to Klay’s eventual return but it’s still years away and it may never happen before his retirement.
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