Steph Curry is still processing the shock of life without his longtime teammate and “Splash Brother” Klay Thompson at Golden State. When Klay made the decision to leave, Curry thought he could sway his four-time champion companion to stay. But Curry’s hopes were dashed when Klay officially signed with the Dallas Mavericks. “Put it this way,” Curry told ESPN. “He can ask. But I don’t got to listen.”
As training camp kicked off in late October, Curry felt the weight of Thompson’s absence. “He would usually enter the practice facility coming off of his boat,” Curry reminisced. “With his Dockers on, whatever outfit he had on… It’s weird to talk about him like he died. Life throws curveballs in sports. We’re used to seeing change, but until a week before he decided to sign with Dallas, we never really thought it would end.”
In Thompson’s place, the Warriors have brought in Buddy Hield, a sharp shooter whom head coach Steve Kerr believes will ease the transition on the court. “One of the reasons we’re excited about Buddy is because we can run some of the same sets we ran for Klay,” Kerr explained. “Draymond and Steph will be looking for him on the perimeter. And with other new additions like De’Anthony Melton and Kyle Anderson, we’re adding smart, tough players who fit into any lineup.”
Basketball-wise, Kerr anticipates a smooth adjustment, especially after Hield’s stellar preseason performance, scoring 22 points on 89% shooting against the Kings. Yet, there’s no denying the emotional impact of losing Thompson, who was more than just a teammate. “It’s the emotional void of Klay being gone… that part is really sad,” Kerr admitted. “But you have to move on.”
As the Warriors gear up for the 2024-25 season, Curry and the team face the bittersweet reality of a new chapter without Klay Thompson but with a promising core ready to carry forward the Warriors’ legacy.
