For over a decade, Klay Thompson knew that Draymond Green always had his back, but he might have to watch his back now when they're on the court together. Green was recently asked how he'd guard Thompson by Sloane Weinstein of the Sloane Knows podcast and made it clear he won't go easy on him.
"I’m running through his chest," Green said.
Sloane asked if Draymond was going to talk trash to Thompson and his answer wasn't all that surprising.
"Of course," Green stated. "He's my brother but he not with us... he with the ops."
I'm sure Thompson would be expecting nothing else from Green. I'd say it would have been quite surprising if Draymond had even hinted that he might go easy on his former teammate. It doesn't matter who you are, if you're not on his team, the four-time All-Star is going to go at you on the court.
It'll be all love from Green toward Thompson after the buzzer sounds, though. They're brothers for life after spending 12 seasons together on the Golden State Warriors, during which they won four titles.
Green and Thompson had formed a close bond over time and would have hoped to walk off into the sunset together, but it wasn't to be. Klay ended his 13-year association with the Warriors by joining the Dallas Mavericks in free agency this offseason.
Green had an emotional reaction to Thompson leaving the Warriors. The 34-year-old admitted he shed a couple of tears and made it clear their bond would last forever. As for when we might get to see Green and Thompson face-off, the Warriors and the Mavericks will play each other for the first time in 2024-25 on Nov. 12, 2024.
Draymond Green Was Happy To See Klay Thompson Go Because He Was Very Unhappy On The Warriors
While Green was disappointed to see Thompson leave, there was a bit of a sense of relief as well. Draymond was happy when Klay left because he was no longer happy there.
"I'm happy he's gone because he wasn't happy anymore. As a brother, I only want what's best for you, not what's best for me, not what's best for this team," said Green on the Club 520 Podcast. "We spent so much time around each other and to see him unhappy the way I saw him unhappy last year... to see someone that does not have a single care in the world all of a sudden can't shake nothing, that bothered me. It was time."
With how miserable Thompson reportedly was, it was time for him to leave the Warriors. I think he will regret this decision years down the road, though. This was the team that drafted him and he spent over a decade with them. In my opinion, the Warriors should have been the only team he played for in his career and I think he will feel the same after he retires.
For now, though, Thompson will look to help the Mavericks go a step further than they did last season when they lost in the NBA Finals. Green, meanwhile, is hoping to help the Warriors make a return to the playoffs after they lost in the Play-In Tournament.
