Klay Thompson's desire to remain with the Golden State Warriors is rooted mostly on the journey he's had to reach this level of success along with his teammates. While Thompson now has three rings and is battling for a fourth in this postseason, he came into an organization that was known as the laughing stock of the NBA, making improvements every season until they reached relevance, and ultimately juggernaut status during the past four years.
“I think it's just the only thing I've known professionally,” Thompson told ESPN's Nick Friedell. “I saw the dark days and now I've seen the glory days. And it's cool to see the process. You appreciate the work it takes to get there. It's simple. I just appreciate how long it took to get to the mountaintop, the work it did, and just seeing how — empower people in the community and really build this fan base to something special.”
The Warriors were honed with late-night shooting sessions, extended defensive drills and team-building activities, ones that went from work to a way of life under Steve Kerr and his staff.
The change in culture also played a huge part in Thompson's meshing with his teammates, the organization, and ultimately welcoming the Bay Area as his new home.
If Thompson signs a new contract with Golden State in the summer, he will have the chance to be among the ones who open up the brand new Chase Center in October, making that another page in the wild book of experiences he's had since being drafted with the 11th overall pick in 2011.
Follow Us
Subscribe