“They put me in cuffs, I'm like, 'For what, a bag of weed?'” – Klay Thompson recalls making national headlines for receiving a citation for possessing marijuana
Klay Thompson is looking to help the Golden State Warriors go back-to-back in the NBA Finals after making a sensational return to the floor last season. With the season currently underway, some might think Thompson would be too busy to make the media rounds. However, he's doing just that.
On the "All The Smoke" podcast, Thompson opened up about many things. From the injuries that sidelined him for two seasons and his triumphant return to his relationship with Steph Curry, he left no stone unturned.
Thompson recalled the time he made national headlines for being cited for possession of marijuana prior to being drafted. As he recalled the moment he was handcuffed in his driveway, co-hosts Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes couldn't help but laugh.
"I come home. I got a nice slack on me. I'm like, 'OK, it's gonna be a decent night, listen to rock band and chill out,' and I see this flashing lights," Thompson said. "I'm like, 'No way. What's going on?' literally when I get in my driveway.
"They put me in cuffs. I'm like, 'For what? A bad of weed?' They put me in the back. I'm like, "God, my parents are gonna be upset, so disappointed. They let me go. I got a citation for it."
Thompson said it was the only time he made national headlines for a legal issue.
Check out the conversation beginning around the 32 minute mark in the video below.
The fallout from Klay Thompson's citation
The situation was one that put Klay Thompson's career in jeopardy. After the citation made headlines, the Golden State Warriors were reportedly hesitant to draft him. Prior to the situation going public, Thompson could have been picked in the top 10 in the 2011 draft. Instead, he slipped to the 11th spot.
The Warriors were still initially hesitant to draft Thompson. But Hall of Famer Jerry West, who worked in the Warriors' front office, convinced the team to take a chance on him.
Interestingly enough, in 2016, Thompson said that he didn't support the use of recreational marijuana. Although he saw the benefits of the narcotic's medicinal use, he said recreational use "should not be of its use ever." The strong stance he took all those years ago seems like a stark contrast to the way he joked about it on "All The Smoke."
Thompson and the Warriors will take on the Phoenix Suns in San Francisco on Friday night. The team will be looking to pick up their second win after defeating the LA Lakers 123-109 in its season opener on Tuesday.