"Steph Curry is the engine that makes us go" - Klay Thompson on completing a decade with the Golden State Warriors
In an interview with NBC Sports, Klay Thompson shared his thoughts on having spent a decade at the Golden State Warriors alongside Steph Curry and Draymond Green in the NBA.
Interviewer Kelenna Azubuike pointed out the rarity of a professional player in a pro team sport completing 10 years with one team. After which Thompson was asked how special it had been to have spent 10 seasons with Curry and Green.
Thompson had nothing but admiration for both players, speaking about their drive to win at all costs irrespective of their different styles of play. He also spoke about them having been underrated during their draft and recruiting process, as they deserve everything they have accomplished and more.
Asked about the characteristics that define Steph Curry the most as a player and a teammate, Thompson said:
"Steph Curry is selfless...he could dominate the ball as he's a great ball-handler, but he decides to let everyone touch the ball...he wants the best for the team. He is the engine that makes us go".
Klay Thompson 10 seasons with the Golden State Warriors and Steph Curry
Thompson joined the Golden State Warriors as a first-round pick in the 2011 NBA draft, two seasons after Curry. Thompson and Curry have been a spark to watch from the get-go, and there exists no better union to lead the Warriors' offense.
In five seasons, they dominated the league, winning 3 NBA Championship titles in the process. They could have snatched a fourth in the 2018-19 NBA playoffs, but Thompson was injured and couldn't play in the NBA Finals. Curry and the boys put up a good fight against the Toronto Raptors, but it wasn't enough to win the series.
Something crazy to think about for Klay Thompson:
2015- Finals
2016- Finals
2017- Finals
2018- Finals
2019-Finals
2020- injured
2021- injured
2022- ?
If Thompson comes back and the Warriors mess around and make another Finals... he’ll have made it 6 seasons in a row.
Since then, the Warriors have found it difficult to put up a good challenge for the title in the absence of Thompson, who is yet to return to competitive action. Curry will be tasked again to lead the team to a title challenge this season. Thompson is expected to join the team later on in the season after fully recovering from injury.
The Warriors currently have an almost perfect record, winning 11 of their first 12 games of the 2021-22 season and leading the NBA Eastern Conference. They hope to continue their top form for the remainder of the season.