“I always said follow the example of Kobe Bryant” – Mychal Thompson on watching Klay enter the NBA and live out their shared dream originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Before Klay Thompson became one of the greatest shooters in NBA history, he was just a quiet kid chasing the shadow of two legends — his father Mychal, a former No. 1 pick and two-time champion, and his idol, Kobe Bryant.
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When Klay entered the league in 2011, the pressure was immediate. He carried a famous last name, big expectations, and the dream of carving out a legacy that would stand on its own.
But for Mychal, the moment wasn’t about expectations. It was about pride — and the work Klay had put in to reach the league. Looking back on the emotions surrounding his son’s debut, the elder Thompson didn’t talk about numbers or fame. He talked about mindset. And the one name he kept coming back to was Kobe.
One year left on his degree at Washington State University, Klay decided to declare for the 2011 draft. He drew interest from the Golden State Warriors, who selected him at No. 11. Officially an NBA player, elder Thompson was excited to see his son take after him.
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“I’m real proud of how hard he works. It takes a lot of hard work to get here, and Klay stays humble and he’s all business, not like his idols. He always idolized Kobe Bryant growing up, and I always said follow the example of Kobe Bryant. It’s all about working hard and being able to realize your dreams,” revealed elder Thompson, who was the overall first pick in the 1978 draft.
Squaring off against his idol
Having played for the Lakers and won two championships with them, the elder Thompson always wanted Klay to rep Purple and Gold. Interestingly enough, Klay was born in Los Angeles and grew up watching Bryant. He also regularly visited the Staples Center to see No. 24.
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Klay entered the league at a time when Kobe was inching towards the end of his prime. In the same conference, he knew the Warriors would face the Lakers at various intervals during the regular season, which gave him a bit of the jitters. However, he looked forward to it.
Known to get into the minds of his opponents, Kobe was an assassin on the court, which many of his peers would also attest to. Nevertheless, Klay knew if he allowed that to get to his head, he would never be able to bring his A game against the Mamba.
Klay did get his flowers from Kobe
A tough taskmaster, it was almost impossible to impress Kobe. Fortunately, Klay was one of the few to receive a pat on the back from the Mamba. He recalled the moment when he earned Kobe’s respect, which was not on the court but in the weight room.
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“He didn’t even have to tell me, one time, for the NBA Global games in 2013, I knew I was on the right path. I can’t sleep because jet lag is crazy, so I go up to the weight room. I’m on the dumbbell bench, and someone just taps me on the shoulder. I look up. I’m like, oh damn, it was Kobe. Hood on, shades on, he just goes ‘Sup,’ shakes my hand, just goes the other side of the gym, starts doing his workout,” recalled Klay.
Years later, Klay would live up to every ounce of potential his father saw in him — and then some. He became a four-time champion, a five-time All-Star, and one-half of the deadliest shooting backcourt in NBA history. But what mattered most to Mychal wasn’t the rings or the records. It was that Klay did it the right way — the Mamba way.
Kobe may have been the inspiration, but it was Mychal who lit the fire early. And when Klay finally earned Kobe’s respect — not with words, but through hard work in an empty gym — it was a full-circle moment built on legacy, discipline, and belief. The kind of moment every father dreams of.
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This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 20, 2025, where it first appeared.