In the second game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Klay Thompson was outstanding. He led the Golden State Warriors to a 1-1 draw in the series with a final total of 30 points and 7 rebounds. Thompson has been a key member of the Warriors team, lending his talent to all four titles won in the past ten years. Klay is fulfilling one of his biggest aspirations by performing at the Crypto.com Arena, though.
The four-time NBA champion discussed his long-held desire to play at the Staples Center, the venue formerly known as the Crypto.com stage, at the post-game press conference.
He said, “Playing in front of my friends and family was such an amazing experience.” As a high school basketball player, my dad and I would visit Staples. I can only imagine myself playing on the floor.Thompson has been playing in the league for just over ten years at this point. His father also played for the Los Angeles Lakers in the past.
I m a huge Kobe [Bryant] fan. He was my biggest inspiration. I m just going to play my hardest to honor him and Gigi cause without his play and me viewing his tenacity on the court, I would not be the athlete I am today.
Klay Thompson on playing in LApic.twitter.com/6rOS2RXz4W
ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) May 5, 2023
In addition, he gave his thanks and love to Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna. I’m a great Kobe fan, he declared. He served as my major inspiration. I’m just going to give it my all to represent him and Gigi because if it weren’t for his play and the way I saw him battle on the court, I would not be the athlete I am now.
Thompson has already gushed about the legendary but now deceased Black Mamba. Thompson frequently acknowledges that Kobe was one of his major influences.
Klay Thompson watched a specific Kobe Bryant video every day during his rehabilitation
During the 2019 NBA Finals, Klay Thompson suffered an injury that was later determined to be an ACL injury. He tore his Achilles tendon just before the season began the next year, when it was anticipated that he would return to the court. He underwent 941 days of rehabilitation while also having to witness his team’s failure while he was away. His eagerness to return to the court was visible in some situations that were captured on video.
Thompson created a routine that helped him stay motivated during his downtime. He rewatched a clip of Kobe Bryant praising the Warriors and the partnership he and Stephen Curry had created.
I enjoy watching the Golden State Warriors play because they come across as really unpretentious, the Laker remarked. Very cool and decent guys appeal to Klay and Steph. Man, those people are cold-blooded killers, you know.These words had enormous meaning for Thompson. During a FOX Sports interview, he would discuss his ritual.
Kobe calls Klay and Steph stone-cold killers.
( : @SportsCenter) pic.twitter.com/1BY6Dyg6eG
theScore (@theScore) May 11, 2019
It means so much that it’s difficult to even express, according to Thompson. It meant the world to me to earn Kobe’s respect because he doesn’t just give out compliments like that. It gave me the motivation to keep moving forward and never give up, just like he did.The Warriors player would talk about how much Kobe was his childhood hero and how crucial it is for him to continue the Mamba’s legacy.
