Warriors Owner’s 1st Text Message To Klay Thompson After Trading Him

The Golden State Warriors agreed to send Klay Thompson to the Dallas Mavericks this summer in a sign-and-trade deal.

Thompson’s exit from the franchise he spent his entire career with was mired by the seeming deterioration for his relationship with Stephen Curry, a weird dynamic unfolding between him and Draymond Green, and then multiple Warriors insiders blasting Thompson in the media as being delusional about the sort of player he is now.

This week, Warriors owner Joe Lacob spoke out about Thompson departing.

During his interview, he also revealed what his first text message to Thompson was after the future Hall of Famer’s exit.

“I sent him that little video of me bowing to him,” Lacob said.

Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob joined @davidaldridgedc and @ThompsonScribe on @AthleticNBAShow to discuss Klay Thompson’s departure and his impact on the organization.

“He’s just going to be in Dallas for a few years and we’ll have to kick his a—.”

Full episode:… pic.twitter.com/AJajQLn2rR

— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) July 16, 2024

“It was just my way of saying, he meant so much to us and so much to this organization and everything we’ve accomplished as a group and that I still feel that way about him. And I always will. It will never change.

“I don’t care what, you know, people think happened or didn’t happen. He will always be welcome in my life. I hope he feels the same. Honestly, I get a little teary-eyed about it. I hope we’re gonna be friends forever. He’s just gonna be in Dallas for a few years, we’ll have to kick his a**. That’s just the job.”

Thompson, for his part, seemed really hurt by how everything unfolded and it’s unclear whether he views what transpired as calmly as Lacob.

Nothing will ever take away what Thompson did with Golden State, but the way that relationship ultimately ended left a bad taste in a lot of people’s mouths.

Anthony Amador

A graduate from the University of Texas, Anthony Amador has been credentialed to cover the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and high school Games all over the Lone Star State. Currently, his primary beats are the NBA, MLB, NFL and UFC.