A TrueHoop article published by Ethan Sherwood Strauss as a preview of ESPN The Magazine's NBA Preview Issue based on Draymond Green has raised much controversy around the Golden State Warriors organization over the past few days.

Along with quotes from former teammate Marreese Speights that had plenty of controversy and backlash in the Warriors' locker room, one particular quote stood out, making sharp-shooting Klay Thompson as livid as the media has ever seen him during his five years in the league.

The article touched on the importance of Green as an emotional leader for the team and how much it cost the Warriors to stand their ground against the Cleveland Cavaliers during last season's NBA Finals when he was suspended for Game 5.

Strauss quoted an unnamed Warriors team official with the following:

“The guys might be frustrated by [Green's] antics, but they had an opportunity to prove themselves without him in Game 5 and they played like a bunch of [cowards].”

“Cowards” was replaced by a much stronger word.

Once media caught up with Thompson after a practice prior to the Warriors' preseason finale against the Portland Trail Blazers, the 6-foot-7 shooting guard did not hesitate to speak his mind as unfiltered as it comes.

“The article pissed me off for this reason,” Thompson told Ros Gold-Onwude of CSN Bay Area. “If you call someone a coward, how are you not going to put your name on that quote? It’s easy to point at someone and call them a coward behind like a shade or a shield. But why don’t you put your name to it and then you can call us cowards? That’s fine. Tell us that.”

As his speech progressed, Thompson became more and more visibly angry.

“But to say we played we played like cowards and you’re not going to quote the guy who said it, that’s weak to me, man,” added Thompson. “How you gonna quote Mo (Speights) and not anyone else? That actually got under my skin. You’re gonna call us cowards and not put your name on the quote? You know what I mean? You’re not gonna quote who said it? Get out of here. That made me mad. We played our hearts out that whole playoffs and you’re gonna call us cowards and not put your name on it. Get out of here.”

The sentiment was echoed by his backcourt mate Stephen Curry and head coach Steve Kerr.

“It upset me, too,” Kerr said. “I guarantee you it wasn’t any of our coaching staff. I’d be shocked if it was anyone in basketball management. We don’t do that. Nobody ever said that to me. Not even the press, but to me: ‘Those guys were playing like cowards.’ So I have no idea where that came from. It’s upsetting because you want to keep things in house. If somebody wants to say something, they should put their name on it. If you don’t feel like you can, don’t put your name on it. But I also know how it works these days. What is an unnamed source? Who are sources with knowledge of the team? It’s gotten harder and harder to control stuff and keep things in house these days. Because I think what used to be a credible source is now, the standards are lower. Sources with knowledge of the team is a vague phrase and who even knows who that would be.”