Klay Thompson made headlines in the 2024 offseason when he officially joined the Dallas Mavericks. While the Los Angeles Lakers expressed interest, their unwillingness to guarantee him a starting spot ultimately pushed Thompson toward Dallas. There, he reunited with fellow 2011 draftee Kyrie Irving.
In a recent appearance on Showtime with Coop, Thompson opened up about his excitement and deep respect for Irving. Thompson admitted that joining forces with Irving has been both rewarding and nostalgic. He even compared Irving with LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Kobe Bryant.
“It’s awesome being his teammate now because we can talk about those things and try and add to our last chapter in the league together and add to our legacy because we did come in the league together. We’re same draft class, class 2011, and I just have great respect for Kyrie. He’s the toughest guy I’ve ever guarded. Put them up there with LeBron and KD and Kobe. He’s got no weaknesses in his game,” Thompson said.
Beyond Irving’s talent, Thompson highlighted his presence as a leader. He added that Irving’s voice carries weight because of the fearless way he plays.
“He’s such a great leader. He leads by example. He’s vocal, and anytime he speaks, you know, it was probably like when Magic spoke or Kareem spoke, they don’t. I mean, I know Magic talks a lot, but Kyrie is a talker. But when he speaks, you listen because you’re like, I respect what he does, man. He’s got no fear when he has the ball in his hands,” he added.
Klay Thompson Shares The Origin Of The “Splash Brothers” Nickname
Thompson also reminisced about the iconic nickname “Splash Brothers” that he shared with Stephen Curry during their Golden State Warriors days.
“I think there was a writer in the Bay Area who was doing a play off the Bash Brothers because they were so great in Oakland. I think it was my second year, where Steph and I had 7 3s apiece in three quarters. He tweeted out, I think his name was Brian, and it just caught fire and stuck with us ever since,” Thompson said.
Together, Curry and Thompson spent 13 seasons as the Warriors’ backcourt duo. They won four NBA championships and redefined the three-point era. Thompson’s time with Golden State remains cherished by fans. Even after his trade, his “Captain Hats” became hot collector’s items on secondary markets.
The post Klay Thompson Delivers Bold Claim Putting Kyrie Irving In The Same Breath As LeBron, KD & Kobe originally published on Total Pro Sports.