Golden State Warriors veteran Draymond Green recently spoke about the departure of long-time teammate Klay Thompson. Thompson, who spent the first 13 years of his NBA career with the Warriors, joined the Dallas Mavericks this offseason. While many saw the departure coming, it was still a major move. Alongside Green and star Stephen Curry, Thompson won four championships with the Warriors. It will certainly take a while to process Thompson wearing another team’s uniform. This will especially be true once the Mavericks and Warriors go head-to-head during the season. Recently, Green spoke about what to expect when he battles his old friend for the first time.
In an interview with Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN, the Michigan State alum was honest about Thompson’s departure. Green had some interesting words, calling it “a happy divorce.”
“It’s a happy divorce, if there’s a divorce,” Green said. “A lot of divorces are nasty. This ain’t one of them. I don’t even qualify it as a divorce. It’s just the next chapter in all of our lives. It’s an opportunity for me and Steph, see what we can do together.”
Additionally, Green also got a little more brutal, saying he will “run through [Thompson’s] chest” as opponents. Though it is a strong comment, Green did also mention that this is in good fun and that he does the same to Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James.
“I’m going to run through his chest,” Draymond Green said. “Because I used to run through my older brother’s chest when we played. There’s always this public disdain over me and Bron’s brotherhood. I try to kill him [on the court] more than anybody. I take him out. And vice versa. That’s what it is. I’m more apt to run through his chest than Kyrie [Irving].”
Draymond Green Opens Up About Klay Thompson’s Departure
When Klay Thompson Will Play the Golden State Warriors
Thompson’s first game against the Warriors will be on the road on November 12. In addition to the obvious narrative of Thompson’s return, this will be an interesting game since it is Dallas’ first game of the NBA Cup. In total, Thompson’s Mavericks will face the Warriors three times. Their second matchup is back in Dallas on February 12. Additionally, their final game during the season is in Golden State on February 23.
Another possibility worth mentioning is that these two teams could face each other in the playoffs. Last season, the Warriors missed the playoffs altogether after losing in the Play-In Tournament. As for Dallas, they made their first NBA Finals appearance in over a decade before losing to the Boston Celtics in five games. Both teams had busy offseasons, largely due to Thompson’s move. Additionally, both teams are equipped to make it to the playoffs next season. Depending on where each team finishes in the standings, a playoff series featuring Thompson going against the Warriors is a real possibility.
The Last Word
Regardless of what happens in the next few seasons, Thompson will always be considered a Warrior. At his peak, he was one of the best two-way players in the league and was instrumental to the Warriors’ dynasty. However, for the foreseeable future, he will be in Dallas. With the Mavericks, Thompson teams up with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Together, this “Big Three” aims to bring the team their second NBA championship in franchise history.
