Klay Thompson thanks Warriors fans for 'great' homecoming

Klay Thompson walked into the Bay Area homecoming on Tuesday and called it “just another regular season game” that he wants to win. He left the game full of gratitude. And why wouldn’t he? He is human after all.

The Warriors went out of their way to celebrate the legacy left by one of their greatest sons. Nearly 400 Warriors employees before the game lined up to greet him in the tunnel at Chase Center. Afterwards, Thompson received the most epic tribute video you’ll ever see, which ended with thousands of fans waving their “Captain Klay hats” in honor an avid sailor who plays basketball in his spare time.

Even during the game, a portion of the Warriors fans couldn’t help but cheer as Thompson drained a game-high six threes.

The outpouring of love was too much for Thompson to ignore. After the game, he thanked a legion of fans who will forever revere him for giving him four NBA titles and a lifetime of memories.

“It was a really cool experience. I really appreciate the fans,” Thompson said via The Athletic’s Anthony Slater. “The captain’s hat was a great perk because I’m such a passionate boater. I saw a lot of familiar faces in the crowd, which was a heartfelt feeling. It was really cool to see the fans being grateful to me. It’s something I never will take for granted. It was quite wonderful.”

Earlier in the presser, the five-time All-Star said it was “unexpected” that hundreds of Golden State employees would greet him in the tunnel wearing captain hats. He offered “kudos” to the organization for appreciating his contributions to the franchise.

Have the Warriors made amends?

Thompson’s comments indicated that his stint with the Warriors did not end on the best note. According to several insiders, he left the organization not because of a dispute over pay, but because of frustrations with the way he was used in the 2023-2024 season.

The sharpshooter came off the bench for the first time since his sophomore year and struggled to find his rhythm. He capped off his Warriors stint with perhaps the worst night of his career, going 0-for-10 from the field in a play-in loss to the Kings. He ultimately signed a three-year, $50 million deal with the Mavericks, when, according to multiple insiders, he could have signed a more lucrative contract with the Warriors.

Maybe the Warriors wanted to make amends for the way things ended. They may also have opened the door for the 34-year-old Thompson to potentially return to the franchise before calling time on his career. Golden State has already retired his No. 11 jersey and plans to erect a statue in his honor after hanging it.