nypost
SAN FRANCISCO — Klay Thompson will step onto the floor at Chase Center on Thursday night, the same building where he helped construct a Warriors dynasty, but he will do so in a different uniform. The former Splash Brother is now with the Miami Heat, his second team since leaving Golden State, and the sight of him in a No. 11 jersey that isn't blue and gold is still an adjustment for Warriors head coach Steve Kerr.
"It'll always be a little strange seeing [him] in a different uniform. But it's getting a little less strange," Kerr said. "Those first couple times were really bizarre. And then you get used to it. It's a reminder that most of us in the NBA end up on multiple teams."
Thompson's 13-year run with the Warriors included four championships, recovery from two catastrophic leg injuries, and more than 2,500 made 3-pointers. Born and raised in Los Angeles, he fell in love with the Bay Area and its fans embraced him just as tightly. His tenure ended when he sought a larger role and more money than Golden State was willing to offer after his age-33 season. The split was far from acrimonious; Stephen Curry said before the season, "I miss that dude everyday."
That doesn't mean Thompson will take it easy on his former team. "I want to beat them bad," Thompson told reporters in Miami. "We're all still very competitive in our mid-30s and I love to go compete against them because they're some of my best friends."
The Heat, who have lost five of their first seven games, may face a challenge, but Thompson appears to be finding his rhythm at the right time. After making just 12 of his first 37 3-point attempts (32.4%), he has hit 11 of 19 from beyond the arc over his past two games. In his second season with the Mavericks, he was mostly relegated to a bench role, but with Miami he has started all seven games, averaging 11.9 points in 21.9 minutes.
Thompson won't be the only former Warrior receiving a warm reception. Andrew Wiggins, who was traded to Miami in the deal that brought Jimmy Butler to Golden State, is also on the Heat roster. Two-fifths of Miami's starting five consists of players who started for the Warriors in their 2022 NBA Finals-clinching Game 6 victory over the Celtics. Wiggins has struggled to fit in alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo, averaging a career-low 10.3 points per game while shooting 29.4% from 3-point range. He has not scored more than 18 points in any of his three previous matchups against Golden State.
Thompson, on the other hand, scored 22 and 29 points in his first two games back against the Warriors, but in five meetings since, he has been held to single digits twice and averaged 11.2 points per game. "This is a big part of the business. It's a small circle, a small community. You get to know each other. You end up competing against friends — sometimes even family," Kerr said. "It'll be great to see both guys — Klay and Wiggs. Two just incredible contributors to the Warriors championships, to the culture, just the vibe of the team. Both Klay and Wiggs are wonderful human beings and great teammates. It'll be good to see them."
The Heat have two days off after Thursday's game before traveling to Sacramento to face the Kings on Sunday. They plan to stay in San Francisco, giving Thompson and Wiggins ample time to reconnect with old friends. Thompson might even revive his daily commute, ferrying across San Francisco Bay from his Tiburon home to the Warriors' waterfront facility. "I just can't wait to go back and see familiar faces," he said. "Not just the players, but the training staff, the equipment managers, the people who work the stands and the concessions, the custodians. I have friends for life in the Bay and LA, so it's always special."
Key Analysis
Thompson's return to Chase Center is more than just a reunion; it's a testament to the transient nature of professional sports. His departure from Golden State was driven by a desire for a bigger role and a larger contract, a common theme in the NBA. While the Warriors have moved on, the mutual respect between Thompson and his former teammates and coaches remains evident. His recent shooting surge suggests he could be primed for a standout performance against his old team, adding another layer of intrigue to an already emotionally charged matchup.
Originally reported by nypost.