"I will cherish that memory forever": Klay Thompson opens up on memorable team bonding experience during "fun" Catalina Island trip
All-Star guard Klay Thompson recently took his Dallas Mavericks teammates to a trip to Catalina Island in Los Angeles. He said it was for them to get to know each other and develop a bond before they plunge back into work for the 2024-25 NBA season.
Speaking on the sidelines of Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki's charity tennis event in Dallas on Saturday, 'KT' shared what went down during their trip to the popular island.
Klay Thompson shared to members of media:
"It was a pleasure to get to know the guys. I just wanted to do them a good deed, take them to one of my favorite places, being Catalina Island. We had a great crossing. The water was beautiful that day. The sun was out. We did a lot of fun things, whether it was dive off the boat, jetskis, or just swim to shore, it was a beautiful day. I think those days, as a teammate, you cherish for life, especially you get to know each other and it was fun."
He added:
"Now it's go time, we don't have enough leisurely time to do that but I'll cherish that memory forever. And that's the beauty of being a veteran, is trying to show the younger guys the other side of life that we don't obviously get to experience much because our time is taken up so much when the season starts. So that was really fun."
Check out what he had to say below:
Klay Thompson signed a three-year, $50-million contract with the Mavericks this offseason after 13 successful years with the Golden State Warriors, where he won four NBA titles.
In Dallas, he joins a team that made it all the way to the NBA Finals last season. With his experience and two-way game, he will be expected to help the squad go over the hump moving forward.
Thompson has career-averages of 19.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 41.3% shooting from deep in 793 games.
Klay Thompson looks to enjoy rejuvenated campaign in Dallas
Following a rough final season with the Golden State Warriors last year, veteran Klay Thompson will look to enjoy a rejuvenated campaign as a member of the Dallas Mavericks.
The four-time NBA champion viewed it as "a fresh start" and helping a team he believed is on the right path to success, led by superstars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
Thompson spoke about his decision to move and what to expect in Dallas back in July(via ESPN):
"Coming here is just a fresh start. Feeling just wanted again, like I bring value, it just get me excited to go out there and even work out after this press conference and get shots up. Yeah, there were times last year where it was tough, where it wasn't as joyful as it was in the past."
Last season, Klay Thompson averaged 17.9 points, his lowest in his last eight seasons with the Warriors.