Tag: Klay Thompson

Chiefs, ‘Splash Brother’ Warriors share striking similarities

The Kansas City #Chiefs and ‘Splash Brother’ Golden State #Warriors have more in common than some fans may realize.

It isn’t often that football and basketball teams can be directly compared, but the experts at Pro Football Network have found one aspect in which the Kansas City Chiefs and Golden State Warriors share a striking similarity.

According to PFN, the Chiefs have made five Super Bowl appearances and won 78 percent of their regular season games in an epic stretch between 2019 and 2024.

The ‘Splash Brother’ Warriors made six NBA Finals appearances from 2015 to 2019 and in 2022, which saw Golden State win four titles and with a 76.2 winning percentage in their regular season games during those years.

In this way, Kansas City’s dominance is not wholly unprecedented, though the format of NFL and NBA seasons are completely different.

While the Chiefs are still blazing a trail toward becoming the NFL’s most storied franchise, the Warriors’ run of dominance with the ‘Splash Brothers’ officially ended in 2024 when star shooting guard/small forward Klay Thompson left Golden State to sign with the Dallas Mavericks.

Steph Curry hitting a 3-pointer over Klay Thompson in their first game against each other was surreal

We still can’t believe this actually happened.

Golden State Warriors superstar guard Steph Curry played against his former teammate Klay Thompson for the first time on Tuesday night, which is still such a strange thing to type.

The revered “Splash Brothers” won four NBA titles together in Golden State and will go down in history as one of the great duos on the basketball court.

However, Tuesday night’s NBA Cup game found Curry and the Warriors playing against Thompson and his new team, the Dallas Mavericks.

Very early in the contest, Curry actually hit a nice 3-point shot right over Thompson, which you really must see to believe given how weird it is.

This is going to take some getting used to; that’s for sure.

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Klay Thompson got an incredible standing ovation from Warriors fans in his Golden State return

Alright, this is pretty amazing.

Dallas Mavericks superstar guard Klay Thompson returned to Golden State for the first time since leaving the Warriors this offseason on Tuesday night.

Of course, he was given a hero’s welcome by the Golden State fans in attendance after he joined the team in 2021 and helped bring four NBA titles to the franchise as one of the “Splash Brothers” opposite Steph Curry.

Warriors fans all wore captain’s hats to honor his “Captain Klay” nickname and gave him a wonderful standing ovation before the game.

You could tell just how much the moment meant to Thompson, who will most likely have his jersey retired one day as one of the franchise’s all-time great players.

While he was to play against Golden State after the celebration, this was such a cool moment for Thompson and his former team.

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2024-25 Dallas Mavericks: A quick preview

Led by perennial MVP candidate Luka Doncic and eight-time All-Star guard Kyrie Irving, the Dallas Mavericks are poised as serious contenders this season. With improved depth, they look even more dangerous than the last time around. By shedding $29 …

Led by perennial MVP candidate Luka Doncic and eight-time All-Star guard Kyrie Irving, the Dallas Mavericks are poised as serious contenders this season. With improved depth, they look even more dangerous than the last time around.

By shedding $29 million in salary from Tim Hardaway Jr and Josh Green, general manager Nico Harrison was able to add key pieces like Klay Thompson and Naji Marshall, ensuring Dallas remains an offensive powerhouse. Thompson, one of the game’s greatest shooters, joins Doncic and Irving to form a potentially lethal offensive trio. The floor spacing from Thompson and Irving will make it difficult for defenses to double-team Doncic without leaving open shooters.

Defensively, after acquiring Daniel Gafford and PJ Washington Jr., the Mavericks showed they could be a top defensive unit. Last year’s rookie standout Dereck Lively II, who impressed in the playoffs, and Marshall, replacing Derrick Jones Jr., will play key roles in maintaining a balanced attack on both ends of the court. With a strong core and key additions, Dallas is prepared for another deep playoff run and a legitimate championship push.

Thunder guard and Texas A&M alumnus Alex Caruso rated higher in NBA 2k25 than 2 legends

Ahead of the release for NBA 2k25, player ratings have begun to be revealed and the newest member of the Thunder is ranked ahead of legends.

As one of the best defensive guards in the NBA, Texas A&M alumnus Alex Caruso is well respected by his peers — and deservingly so.

Ahead of the release for NBA 2k25 on Sept. 6, player ratings have begun to be revealed and the newest member of the Thunder is ranked ahead of two future Basketball Hall of Famers.

Caruso was given an 82 rating which ranked him 71st overall in the association. Other players with an identical rating include: Jalen Suggs, Herbert Jones, Jerami Grant, Darius Garland, Ivica Zubac and Jonas Valančiūnas.

The combo guard found himself slotted ahead of five former NBA All-Stars, two of which are arguably first ballot Hall of Famers. Those pair of legends are Chris Paul and Klay Thompson. After Caruso was traded to Oklahoma City in June, the move was compared to when the Golden State Warriors acquired Thompson’s former teammate, Andre Iguodala.

The other three All-Stars ranked behind Caruso, all of which with an 81 rating, are D’Angelo Russell, Mike Conley and Nikola Vucevic.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Shaun on Twitter: @Shaun_Holkko.

 

‘Wild’ trade idea sends Khris Middleton the Warriors

The ‘wild’ trade proposal would send Khris Middleton to the Golden State Warriors.

The Golden State Warriors have been re-tooling their roster this summer. With Klay Thompson leaving for the Dallas Mavericks, the front office has added Buddy Hield, De’Anthony Melton and Kyle Anderson to help round out the rotation and provide depth at multiple positions. However, the Warriors did miss out on Lauri Markkanen, who was rumored to be their top trade target.

As such, Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz has posited a ‘wild’ trade idea to give the Warriors some additional shooting in the front court, which would inevitably provide some additional floor spacing for Steph Curry in the upcoming season. The trade looks like this:

Warriors get: Khris Middleton

Milwaukee Bucks get: Jerami Grant

Portland Trail Blazers get: Moses Moody and Andrew Wiggins

“The Warriors are essentially swapping Andrew Wiggins for Middleton here, as Moody may not even play much this upcoming season with the additions of Buddy Hield and De’Anthony Melton combined with Brandin Podziemski entering the starting lineup full-time,” Swartz reasoned. “Middleton’s shooting, passing and overall versatility make him a strong fit in Golden State, and the Warriors should be thrilled to get off Wiggins’ contract.”

On paper, adding Middleton makes a lot of sense for Golden State. He would plug multiple gaps, provide high-level scoring and playmaking along with being an above-average defender. However, Middleton has struggled with health in recent seasons, has shown signs of age-related decline and is coming off a summer where he’s been recovering from surgery.

As such, the Warriors would be wise to swerve this hypothetical trade and look elsewhere. Nevertheless, Swartz is right about one thing: any major trade Golden State makes will likely include Wiggins.

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Did Klay Thompson want to be free of expectations?

Was Klay Thompson’s decision to leave the Golden State Warriors due to a desire to get a fresh start away from the Bay Area?

Klay Thompson’s decision to leave the Golden State Warriors at the start of free agency was a major talking point around the NBA. The four-time NBA champion had been expected to re-sign with the franchise and end his career as a one-team man. Nevertheless, he opted to sign with the Dallas Mavericks to form a new big three with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

According to Patrick Beverley, who was speaking during a guest appearance on a recent episode of “The OG’s Show,” Thompson’s decision was likely based on the desire to play with freedom.

“I didn’t see that coming,” Beverley said. “But again, he took less money. He just want freedom. ‘I want to be able to hoop.’ For him to have the ability as a bailout guy, as a third option.”

Beverley’s comments were likely focused on the fact that Thompson had a certain level of expectations from the Warriors fanbase. And while he’s no longer the All-Star-caliber player he once was, who could knock down shots and play lock-down defense across multiple positions, he likely felt pressure to try and be that guy.

By moving to the Mavericks, Thompson is getting a fresh start. He can re-invent himself without the pressure of trying to replicate what he did in his younger years. That is likely the type of freedom Beverley was alluding to during his podcast appearance.

Whether Thompson can thrive on his new team in a new role will remain to be seen. But if his decision was based on feeling free and enjoying basketball, his decision was likely the right one.

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Warriors set for early-Novemeber return of Klay Thomspon

The Golden State Warriors will welcome Klay Thompson back to the Bay Area on November 12.

According to Shams Charanai of The Atheltic, the Golden State Warriors will face Klay Thompson and the Dallas Mavericks on November 12. The four-time NBA champion left the Bay Area at the start of free agency, joining up with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving with the reigning Western Conference champions.

Since losing Thompson, the Warriors have re-tooled their roster, bringing in Buddy Hield, De’Anthony Melton and Kyle Anderson, thus improving their overall depth and talent pool. Nevertheless, Thompson’s first game back at the Chase Center will be emotional. He’s been a core part of the franchise’s success for over a decade and is one of the most successful players in team history.

Still, the Warriors will undoubtedly be looking to spoil Thompson’s homecoming. Steve Kerr’s team will likely be looking for a strong start to the season after missing out on the 2024 NBA playoffs. Whether they get their wish when facing one of the best teams in the NBA will remain to be seen.

While it will be difficult to see Thompson in another team’s jersey and even harder to root against him throughout the game, his return will undoubtedly be a fun one and will likely have a video tribute tied into the evening at some point.

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Warriors could potentially avoid first tax apron

The Golden State Warriors could potentially avoid the luxury tax next season.

The Golden State Warriors have reduced their total salary obligations during the offseason. With Klay Thompson and Chris Paul both leaving the franchise, the Warriors’ cap sheet looks healthier than it has in multiple years. During the 2023-24 season, Joe Lacob noted how he wanted the franchise to reduce its tax burden and potentially avoid being hit with another repeater tax.

In a recent article for Bleacher Report, cap guru Eric Pincus explained how the new cap rules and the Warriors’ recent moves in free agency have set the team up to potentially avoid the first tax apron in the upcoming season.

“The significant change for the Warriors was the reduction in luxury tax from last year’s league-leading $176.9 million penalty,” Pincus wrote. “It wouldn’t be shocking if the franchise dropped entirely below the tax line before the trade deadline. Thompson may be gone, but the team added De’Anthony Melton, Anderson and Hield while dramatically reducing payroll.”

The front office has done a great job of re-tooling the roster while also shedding a significant amount of salary. The Warriors are potentially better equipped than they were last season and could avoid being a luxury tax team in the coming months.
Whether the front office decides to pursue ducking under the luxury tax or commits to adding another impactful player to the rotation remains to be seen. Either way, it’s been a strong summer in the Bay Area.
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Recent Warriors addition labeled “best new weapon”

The recently acquired guard could be the Golden State Warriors “best new weapon” next season.

The Golden State Warriors have re-tooled their roster following the departure of Klay Thompson at the start of free agency. Buddy Hield, De’Anthony Melton and Kyle Anderson have all joined the franchise, along with rookie Quinten Post. As such, Steve Kerr’s roster and rotations will look considerably different in the upcoming season.

During a recent article for Bleacher Report, Dan Favale cited Melton as being Golden State’s best new weapon. Melton is a two-way guard who thrives as a primary point-of-attack defender. He’s also a reliable scorer, averaging 41% from the field and 36.9% from the perimeter throughout his career thus far.

“Despite standing only 6’3″, the 26-year-old can defend both guard positions and a bunch of different wings,” Favale wrote. “He saw extensive reps against guys like Cade Cunningham, Anthony Edwards and Jayson Tatum last season alone. Melton’s screen navigation is relentless, and he’s opportunistic in passing lanes and with help. Never mind loose handles and high dribbles. Even those with enviable ball control aren’t safe from turnovers with him around.”

Melton struggled with injury last season. However, if he can remain healthy and eat significant minutes within the rotation, he could become a core part of the Warriors’ defensive system moving forward. 

The Warriors finished as the 15th-ranked defense last season. Melton’s presence within the rotation should help them climb toward (or into) the top 10, which would be a welcomed improvement for a roster that lost multiple games from winning positions during the 2023-24 campaign.

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