Klay Thompson | Ep 156 | ALL THE SMOKE Full Episode | SHOWTIME Basketball

about to get to the ship. That just means he doesn't care like we're here. Beet kicked out, We're ready, um Man, four time champ, five time All Star, arguably one of the greatest shooters ever. Um. When you think about where it all started towards that, now, what comes to mind? Uh, the first thing is my brothers, because without Mikey and Trace, I was very blessed to grow

up with two brothers. We're all close in age, within two years of each other, and the battles you would have playing one on one and anything, whether it's football, baseball, basketball, life, first down the stairs, whatever, it was that's what really molded me. And uh, you don't want to beat anyone

more than your brothers and one on one. So all those competitive games through high school and then we just love watching whoever was the Blazers and Lakers, Tray Steelers, Mikey's Vikings, And that's the first thing it really comes to mind as my family. I love it. So what year is this for you? This is your twelve on the books, your twelve? I mean, how I mean, how is life? You know, obviously you came back after last season. We're gonna get to that. You gotta won a championship.

Now you're heading to the off season and year a twelve. Life couldn't be any better, to be honest. So it's like I'm looking through my fireplace at my boat right now. It's crazy. God is so good. I'm healthy, I'm going in defending a championship like I don't think. I mean, there's always goals I have and things that could be better, But right now I'm very content and just trying to enjoy every day because this is big blessings. I mean, the world knows, you know, with it. Two days? How

many days? One days? You were down. A lot of highs are a lot of loads. At that point, coming back was obviously a high. What is this past three years kind of touch you? Um man, don't take anything

for granted. Uh, the bad days, the great days, the game nights, the pre game naps, the travel days to Okay see Indianapolis, especially the dog days, those are better than where you were at, where I was at, you know, And because watching is there's always it's just so uncomfortable having to watch, especially your teammates go through their struggles or take els and you are helpless. You're just watching and you're just like, man, I swear I can do this, this and that, and you know you won't be a

part of that journey. That season that was that was not fun. But it just made me so grateful for having just put my phone away in my lock. You're not checking it for that four or five hour block and just being a basketball player like there's nothing, it's a dream. Really is something more I really enjoyed. No matter how many how matter how big the boat I get or bigger fish I catch. I don't think there will be anything in life that can replace me just

doing what I love, and that's getting buckets getting buckets. Uh. We voted this year on ESPN, like what was our favorite part of the season, and mine was your comeback and no doubt, but your first game, like I think you had the world on edge because everyone thinks, you know, Clay's the shooter. You were turning the corner and trying to dunk it, dunking and getting tough lap. Like what

was it like that first game back? Man? That game was It's it's arguably, I mean, for me, it was probably like my favorite game my career really, first one back, first one back, because I didn't know what to expect. It didn't definitely the thing I was to catch two bodies. I'll tell you that. I was in Santa Cruz a month earlier and it was tough to get to the cup. I was like, yeah, man, I remember being this hard like and it was just tough to dunk, you know.

I was like, get that momentum. But once you get in front of the crowd like that and energy energy, that was an out of body experience. I couldn't believe I did that. I was like, you just feel the crowd, you feel it. It It was and every time you touch the ball and that was such a like built up day. You know, it was two years I had all my teammates rocking with the number eleven after me, So I was like, I got live up to the hype. I definitely shot my way out of it. You know, I

got up like eighteen shots. You're a high You're a hired rifleman's supposed to do. That's what you're supposed to do. Thoughts on that that that first dunk? Were you scared in the process? Did even not even think about it? Like? What was that? I think about it? That was the best Honestly the best moment of my That was the best moment I had a long time, obviously winning championships, whatever,

all Star games, but just dunking on two people. I don't think there's not a better feeling basketball theyre dunking on so like, and to do it first came back. I just whenever I happened when I have a bad day in the gym, I watched that clip. We're okay, possible, it's gonna be. Uh. Your team just got back from Japan. How was that trip any any funny memorable stories or how was the experience for you guys? It was amazing? You know how much they love basketball on Asia. It's crazy.

It's like the world. It's like their sport over there. And I don't get to play, but I got to do a three point contest with Steph. And there's a lot of pressure when you're shooting out there. You know, you're across the world, and the Japanese fans they hear about the Splash Brothers. They expect you to shoot a certain way. And for us to only missed like five

shots together hit the four pointers, that was fun. That was the het out of my trip because, uh, there's a lot of pressure when you're out there on the island, and I felt good to do that with Steph. And I felt going to show the team, like just the Warriors brand man, like being out there and thinking like there are so many Warrior unions out here across the world, like this is unbelievable, and that puts everything in perspective

and we're grateful for obviously everything you guys did. That's how I could actually really that's how I checked who the real Warrior fans are. If you walk into the arena with what we believe shirt on, you are a legend, Like you got a whole another respect to your finger and they're all they're old now too. It's not the nice night beat up, beat up and through the washing the e on it is crazy. Well I've seen a lot of them. They still exist. Head into the new

season being defended champs. Um, how do you avoid the championship hang? You've been in this position? Just shoot, just embracing the fact that it's a marathon. Really, like if you're already thinking ahead of June, like, oh we can win number five, UM, ain't gonna make you. Ain't gonna make you, know if that thoughts crossed my mind a lot because of but after like the years we had and injuries like anything, and that happens every NBA season

with injuries, it's really a war of attrition. So I'm not sure if Sunny three wins into cars, I mean, that's all that's great, But we gotta get there and be healthy when we do get there, and that's for the playoffs. But just enjoy every single game really like we're going into we get to hear again it's been some years, but when they introduce us, the defending NBA Championel State Warriors, to hear that during introductions like, okay

against the Lakers. My dad, sorry, Dad, you gotta he's always torn because he's a right doing his job, but he's rooting for his son. So it's a good problem to have, right of course, as always the person to go to finish this season, to go through the season healthy, any other person who goes. I want to be an

All Star again, you know. I mean I'm used to what I know to be able to make those games and considered one of the best in the world, Like it's a it's the coolest, yeah, no better feeling, and I just want to be able to experience that again. I want to all NBA is always great, but I

don't want to put that pressure on myself. So if I play like I know I'm capable of, I should be an NBA All Star and I and then go through what I did and be able to accomplished that, you know, you know, tearing a knee, tearing achilles when you came back, what do you feel like was the last thing to get come back for you? With a lateral? It was man Like, anyone who's done it knows that you might lose a little power, like taking off, like my right foot take off I'm not gonna say it's changed,

but it's taking a long time since that happened. Like or your lateral movement might not my body. My mind would go places and my body would it wasn't there yet. But when you take two years off, you gotta realize you gotta give yourself them to breathe. And I'm so competitive, i would be hard on myself, like I used to be able to check this dude and get buckets and now going one for twelve from three, I'm getting blown

by everybody. So there are some dog days. But you just gotta do all little things too, like I gotta eat a crazy diet now you know, no bread, limited cars, no red meat, watch what you drink. It is just the little things. When you get to your early thirties with a decade of experience, that help me get over the top. And shout out to our training staff man, like we went there to that it was amazing, amazing.

And what they looking at my playoffs stats right before the NBA Finals, like after we clinched it, and I'm just like if you just looked on paper, you would based off the numbers, you would have never thought I was injured and to see that, like, it gave me so much motivation to keep going. And I cannot get there without Rick and Kyle and Science, Dave and Yoder, Danny Carl who was Jerry. We spent so many days together and I would, um, you know how we are.

We want to poop all day and then have to pull us back, like you can't do this trust stuff Like I feel great, but I can. I just went out and made twenty out of shots like, but that game speed and there's just things you can't simulate. So I really appreciate them forguiding me. Do you feel like yeah, yeah, yeah, I feel like I'm a percent. I don't even think about anything. And God is so good. You know. There's a lot of players though, who defied the odds before me.

Dominique Wilkins k D. Yeah, man, it was so nice having as Dot around. Yeah. Well, as I went through to come back and win three chips black he had. I still tell it's like the greatest mid range game is his NBA history co KD Mike and that shot was on block right point guard. Yeah, he was amazing. What do you think in your opinion, what's the how to westle it to you right now, man, I feel like the West is stacked again. I don't know, I can't catch a break. I mean, Memphis Phoenix Nuggets gonna

be healthier. Kawai and Paul are back. Yeah, stars on every on every team, like multiple too. So it's great. Man. The NBA is in a great place. Like there's the

guys been around forever. Then these young bucks coming up, whether it's Edwards, Moran or Booker, but then we still got Braun doing his thing and Steph And it's just really cool because when I think when I was a rookie and I think about who like this was running the league, it was like Kobe and Tim Duncan j G. And I'm like, bro, I really grew up watching y'all my whole life. Now it's just weird when it happens to get there. Now these kids on our team are nine. Yeah,

we was watching y'all. Right, man, it just feels like yesterday. It's crazy. It's crazy time times. Which young fellows on your team impression? Oh man, I don't know. It's like our front office doesn't miss it's crazy, you know what I'm saying. Like they all got something special. They all do things differently, like like even Jonathan Comingo. I haven't seen a twenty year old jump like him in a long time. And it's like quick bounce, like off the rim.

It jumpers nice to Mo Moody gets into as funny as you watch Mo and he's like, you know he won't like, wow, you going to workout? But then you throw him in the game and he was nineteen. He was nineteen years old last year getting playoff buckets, huge offensive rebound, he just did. You don't expect that from a night team. I didn't know that young. Yeah, the way he carries yourself much, this is crazy. You look like you've been playing this game for ten years and

you can't, like, how do you scout that? You know? And obviously what Jordan Pool has become like who would have thought the Splash Brothers without another have a pool party? I mean, that's that's gotta be destiny. That was perfect. That was the stars aligned for that one, My goodness. And he plays like Steph two. It's crazy, but Wi is twenty seven now, actually, I think. But I'm like, bro, you've been in there. I've been in here for a

minute now. I remember when you were checking Kobe and I'm so grateful for Andrew though, Oh my gosh, she makes my job so much easier. I watched him, like, Bro, I can't believe you have to chase around dunk kitchen Tatum and Mirandol game and then go get us twenty. I'm exhausted watching you. But I mean you do that ship though too. Yeah, well I was seven, was doing the same. Wiseman's back finally now, man James, you guys, he's looking like a beast, especially in Japan. You see

what he did in Japan. But he dunked on Porzingis. I'm like, he's not easy to dunk on. He dunked on. He was dunking everything. Yeah, we got so many, it's crazy. I'm like, how did the Warriors do it? Reloaded they got to It's crazy how we did it. But I'm excited. Let's go back to your upbringing Portland, Oregon. Dad Michael Thompson was an NBA Grade two time champ with the Lakers. Mama cottage volleyball player. How was it growing up in Portland?

Portland was cool, Portland was It's always want a whole a special place in my heart. Uh. I had a nice life though, Man, my dad was a number one pick, he was a Blazer. What was this fool doing rock beyond his own time? Sorry, hey Rocker, what's that in with your play? All right back to where he was at. Man, I grew up loving the Blazers. I grew up playing three sports. I was very blessed. My my mom did really all the hard work, though she had three boys.

She would run us around the practice and two tournaments. Get our gear right, get our lunch is right. My dad didn't do any of the heavy lifting, but he did show me the fundamentals of the game. So thanks Pops to carry me a long way. But just being able to go with him the Blazer games and see people how they treated him inspired me because he came from his first born number one pick and the Bahamas back then with such a foreign land. I'm like, man,

it's on the other side of the world. My dad came all away from there to be here and just like a kind of like a I knew even when I was younger, I was have to live up to his name because like, uh, just being a national hero in a sense like from the Islands. Barely even play growing up, but was tall and athletic and I went to Miami and ended up in Portland. It was crazy, but I was just grateful for him. I love the Trailblazers.

I loved Rashid and Damon um Scottie. I thought, I love those teams like they were such a pride and joy for the city of Portland, and they really shaped my early basketball memories. I'll never forget when we lost the Lakers, and I was but I was Loki a Laker fan too. But I'll never forget that Game seven, that that killed the city. But we were right there and that was one of the greatest player teams of all time. I said, that was one of the greatest

teams never to win it right there was. They were good. Took him to seven games too, and was that was fun? Though? That so so it was them. I refused to be a Seattle sports fans. We just didn't like each other, you know, Portland Seattle. I was not rocking with the Seahawks. Of them hearners, so I would I picked the who do I like? I like the Red Sox and the Titans. I love Steve McK I played quarterback growing up man,

so Steve Mcnernettie George my favorite players. Actually, me and Kevin Love spent so much time playing basketball growing up. But we all knew. Everyone in the city of Portland knew Kevin was destined. It was six, seven, eight and eighth grade. When did you guys meet? What did you guys meet? We played baseball when we were eleving. We all knew like Kevin was going. I didn't know that about myself yet till I hit my gross first and kind of got some confidence. But I remember Kevin getting

bags and nikes and all these letters. We'd be thirteen. I'm like, is this how it really is? But this is crazy? And then like, but you were so I was so naive back then. I didn't really know how the world operated. But I loved my time in Portland as a kid. I still have. Every time I go to the Rose Garden. It's special for me just because of what I got to witness there. Man, it will stick with me the rest of my life, and so I'm very grateful for my father for giving that to us.

Three brothers. Older brother played college basketball, younger brothers professional baseball player. Was what was it like growing up in the household? Very competitive? I'm sorry. Yeah, it was really competitive. We just we love sports. We all our favorite athletes. We cut out or slam magazines East Bay and we would It was great though. Man, we would play from yard baseball, football. Games would never end because someone end up crying and complaining they got cheated or something. Who

used to win the most? Though back then, I think Mike used to win the most. He said, he's too. Ever, you guys are all two years apart. Yeah, Trace was. I never would beat Tracing whooketball, but I see why now she's now playing the big leagues. I'm like, okay, I was never supposed to beat them, but man, I'm just so grateful those two we uh we were, but had a lot of you not is which with your brothers? Like it's growing up, you know what I'm saying. Yeah,

so we we made each other better. So Mikey's coaching with you now over Golden State. Your your youngest brothers playing for the Dodgers. Now, how you know, just when you when you think sit back in the look at that, you know, two brothers at the highest level in two different sports. What's that like? It's surreal, man, it's surreal. Going to work with Mikey every day. I'm very grateful that the Warriors gave us these opportunities. Uh, I love it because the guys love being around Mikey. He's a

great addition. Yeah. I kicked it with Mike more than I used to kick when I played here. Mike with my guy. Oh yeah, these guys have a great time, all up and smoked. Yeah. Man, Mikey is great. He's a great addition to staff because he played in the NBA for a little bit and he played overseas, so I was going against them today, I'm like, I can't we going against Mike and Press right now. It's just great.

And he's a big body, sixes can shoot, So it's good having around and to see what Trace went through to be back on the in the Dodger Blue killing it like he was in the miners, battling back to get a look and he got another shot and he just ran with it. Like what a career he's had. Man. He just he's not even done yet either, Like he's thirty one and still going. I'm excited for his future because he has really proven this year that like he is a five tool players. He's killing out there he's

like Griffy like obviously not exactly. That was his idol growing up. So we could do it on the center field. You can do it all. He could do it all, man. You could rob home runs, you can go yards six three. Could you imagine if the Dodgers win a ring and the Warriors win a ring and the Thompsons get too would that would be the I'm gonna sell that script. One day at fourteen, your dad gets traded to the Lakers. So from Portland to Orange County? What was that like?

He got traded in the broadcast world, like the he stopped doing the color commentating for the Blazers and then he went down to l A. So we moved. We moved like a south hour south of l A to in Orange County, And it was a big change at first. A lot of things are different, and caliber's Oregon on there, forget what you're staying in downtown sharing to in l A. And I just walked out on the street and I looked, but I've never seen skyscrapers like that before. I was like,

this is unbelievable. I've only seen this in the movies. But going to Staples and with my dad I was. It was surreal. Man. I was like, I get to watch Shaq and Kobe. This is the best time in my life. I went to with him to Detroit. That was really my best basketball experience, seeing that, oh four Finals live with my brother and this look at him. He's no dogs on the couch rock. Yeah, that rule don't exist around here. But yeah, I'm thankful for my dad.

Those are really my best memories just going with him. He would get there so early three PM to call game, but Kobe would come out in thirty minutes and I would just be like locked in, like I can't believe I get to see this empty arena. So I'll be at the Staples for like seven hours, kicking in the family room. Those are really some of the best times in my life. I would see like Jack Nicholson or Adam Sandler walked by, and I'll tell him my home. He's in high school. Like, man, I get to see

all these famous people. The first famous person I ever saw Staples was Sabrina teenage, which I never seen to step you before. Yeah, I remember her, so I was juiced. I was like thirteen. I was like, I think it was at Clippers game too. I was like, no way, but it was just growing up. I was just feel blessed having that those experiences. Any cool Kobe stories you can remember as as a youngster, um Man, I remember after those four finals, this this is when I knew

my dad really had the juice. This is when I really knew he played in the league and he did his thing because the Lakers just got beaten. Five is right at the what's that hotel in burning the Townsend, we're still staying, which is crazy. We're in the banquet room or whatever, and I'm sitting at my table with my uncle John and my dad and it's just us three eating eating like souper whatever. And Kobe comes and sits right next to my dad, just Kobe by himself,

nobody else. I'm like, of all people who picked up sit with right now, you picked my pops to talk to. This is crazy. I didn't say it works. I was so starstruck. I just remember sitting there like, I can't believe this was Froby At the time too, I was like I can't. It's like I can't believe chopping up my my dad had hair back then too. I was like, I can't believe these two are just chopping it up right now. This is crazy. I'll never forget that memory,

Like just being there. It was one of the best moments of my life, to be honest, because I was that That's all I needed to do, that like energy, being around him is all I needed to like know what I wanted to do with my life. It's like, man, I'm born to do this and my dad did it, and yeah, it's in the cards streaking code. Man, we missed him though. Another story I got. We were in China together for the Global Games and me and Christin Marco couldn't sleep, so we went up to the weight

room and it was just us too. We were like doing dumbbell bench press or whatever, and I just feel tapped my shoulder and I looked behind me and I was like, oh, what's up. Man? It was cold, and he had his black shades on his hoodie and all he said to me was what's up? Just tap me up and went to this thing. But I heard him telling that same story in the press a few years later, and like, I'm like, I can't believe this man's memory

is incredible. I can't even he even remembers that, And like just had that moment with them, Like what a businessman like all he told me what's up and did his thing, and like I didn't really act like he wanted to see me, but I felt like he kind of kind of liked to say something. But I was like, man, I'm doing something right. If I'm in the gym with him, it's just us too, Like, Okay, what was it like? What was it like to kind of, you know, be a fan early on and then actually get a chance,

you know, to play against him. There's not many in the league who you really play against me. You're like, wow, I can't That's what I was asking you about Michael Jordan earlier. I was like, probably watching your whole life and you finally get the step on the court with them, You're like, this is crazy, man. You're like a You're like a god to all of us. You know. That's how I felt every time the cod was like I can't believe I'm watching man. I know everything about your career.

I remember when you won the dunk contest between the legs, when you made the first All Star Game in ninety with Eddie Jones, and then like everything and then like to be there it's like you don't want to be a fanboy, but you really are. Deep down. You're just like this just because he's trying to kill you. He was killing me though he had, especially before it towards Achilles Are. He was he was so he was so strong and I was young and you were just but

I never backed down. I always loved because he's like, man, you're really my idol. I'm gonna test myself today. There's only a few like yeah, he was the only one who really brought the album because Draymond told a similar story where he's like I stopped shooting pre game because I was just I even had Kobe Bryant courtside CC four, So it's like all those emotions come back, like this is great. He was back home, like man, you got he just gave you buck. It sounds amazing to watch, Like, yeah,

I know how you ended up at Wing State too. Man. I wanted to go. Oh man, That's why why I love being a Cougar, because being in Soca, I wanted to go, you l a. You know they got the banners, kareem. You know how it is that baby Blue grew up in Cali. There's no It's like that's like a legendary place to be. I didn't work out, I want to go to USC I said no either, like, nah, you

know I got a time. And then even Cal I didn't have I'm not sure if I didn't have the grades for stand from me, like, I don't know if I'll well, I'll do there. Even Oregon. I was like, man, I go back to Oregon. That's why I grew up. They're like, nah, Orgust, now what you dumb? Now? I wanted to play the Pac Tense so bad. But then Tony Bennett came calling, and Wazoo came off a great year. They made the attorney. I went up and visited, and to see those players get the love from the city,

I was like, wow, y'all really celebrities up here. And the coach was amazing too. At the time Tony Bennett, I would just shoot with him and he played in the league. I was like, you really made the league, bro. You're a five letting little white guy and you can get to the league. You promise I can get there, Like, oh, I'm here. I'm starting as a freshman. And Tony had

an incredible jump shot and I saw him shooting. I was like, I can learn from him, Like you know, a lot of coaches, especially the collegiate level, you asked me go out there and do something like they might snaff something. He's fresh out the league like eight years ago and he can still shoot. And seeing that at eighteen, I was like, yeah, that's what I need to be. I just want to play the and I wanted to stick it to other schools who didn't recruit me at

the time. So I was like, I'll go anywhere. I'll go to Pullman Like. It was a tough adjustment first with the winter times, especially come from SoCal, but I was I'm forever a coog and I'm gonna rep that to forever, like because it keeps me humble, Like this is the one school that wanted me. No U, C L a USC CAP, nobody else. So a school it is yeah, winner lose, cougs boost. That's the model. Because we had a lot of heartbreak, a lot of hard man.

That's what makes his family. We stick together through it all. That's what we do. We have Ryan Leaf right right. We had we had a lot of quarterbacks man Jack Thompson throwing, Samoan Mark ripping was a Super Bowl MVP Drew bledsoe Ryan Leif Gardner misshoes in the league now and the kid wear number one. It's real nice. He's like our Mike Vick pretty much like he's doing threat and he's we're four one right now. So I still

follow man the football and basketball programs. Give me one of the one of your best college memories on off the court. Oh man, you want to hear a funny one When I got ruled for a dime bag in my driveway. Yes, the poll the police were hate. It's so ironic because two years after the cannabis was legalized instead of Washington and I had to apologize. I got I got suspended. Was that right before of the draft? Yeah, that's the only time I ever made the national headlines.

In my driveway broke the tail light. The culture around where they find it as where they find my glove compartment. I was very sober driving. I'm not an idiot. You know, I'm not gonna be anebriating behind the wheel, like jeopardize my future. I come home, you know, I just got a nice little sack on me. I'm like, okay, it's gonna be a decent now you know, I might play rock band and just chill out. Yeah, And I see these flashing lights, I'm like, no way, what's going right

when you're pulling up to your house? Literally right when I get my driveway, and I'd be like, some bro, it's crazy. And you're like, sir, you have a broken tail light and we smell marijuana. Can we get out your car? Can you get out your car? I'm like, don't you need a warrant for that? And like we can get one. I'm like whatever, man, just searched the and I was upset. They put me in cuffs like I'm like for a bag of weedo and cuffs like in the back of the car they take down. They

shame me. No, they didn't take me downtown. Did they know you were? Of course it is a small city, was a city of thirty thousand people. They put me in the back. I'm just like, nearly it comes to my eyes, like God, my parents can be so upset. They would be so disappointed. Man. Then uh they let me go and I got a citation for it, and then uh man it hit the But that was before the draft. I remember they made a big deal about that, like they die there because the draft was are right on.

The ed guy didn't hurt me, buddy, I just just right right. And what happened after that we my roommate, God bless his soul, was like, you're messing up everything and you ture. I'm like, okay, then I had to. I went out and I apologized to Kugar Nation the next night because we played U C l A. This is the second biggest regret my basketball career. I kid you not. We're nineteen and ten and usually to get a at large business C double A tournament you need

twenty wins, especially from a big conference. We were nineteen and ten. I'm playing the school I wanted to go to so bad. I gotta just one game suspension for it, so I gotta sit and watch. Man, it's the game. That game. Yeah, I hurt my It still hurts my heart to this day. In front of Cougar Nation, I teared up. I was like, I'm sorry, I let you all down. YadA, YadA, we man, we almost won the game. Fasal and Brock, Marcus, reg everybody was on the team

at that time. You remember, it was like, yeah, all these guys are my friends too. Is crazy like Jeremy Anderson, uh Reeves Nelson my guy so far now, Malcolm Lee rest in peace, Tyler Honeycutt, it's my God, rest his soul. Who else was there? Um? Yeah? Those those are their best players and we lost the close game. Who was? Brock said? Brome was my roommate in college. He he plays for the Australian national team. He played, He's played overseas for like ten years now. Incredible career. So I

still keep in touch with all my teammates. Man that that really hurt me though, not being able to play that game, and I knew I made a mistake. I had to own up to it. But I was probably myself for apologizing and owning up to it, Like, look, I messed up. I'll be better. Let you all down, and I still might smoke. I'm just not gonna get caught. That's how I got to be a more responsible next time and not drive with it and just gets crazy. We got asked to deliver right now the middle man,

what are we doing it? But even well, that's why I love the coups because I heard of I remember my voice was trembling. I heard of we Love You play appreciate that. Three years in Pullman, uh, he decided to go to the draft. You could drafted the number eleven. We're all to the Warriors, same draft as Kyrie Kawai, Kimba, Jimmy Butler. Any good workout stories that summer, tah Man, Isaiah Thomas too. That was my big me and I too go out of in college, but they I'll always

work out, Kauai. You went to Cleveland together. I went to a lot of places together. I'll never forget Marshawn Brooks busting my tail in Indiana. What was Kauai? Because I'm sure you were probably a little quiet back then to conversation. Yeah, we have each other and know what you're talking about pretty much, man, and we're probably I'm from County Son III, so we're pretty mellow. We like doing the same things. He likes to fish and he loved the ocean and we were, Yeah, we were kicking

the summertime too. I remember when they won the chip in ten. We went out San Diego together and this man was getting everything free. I was like, well, I mean I played the league too. I don't got a championship yet, you know, but he was a king down there being an Aztec and all that, but quite a living man. He's like a Scottie Pippen. He's just he's a freak. Man'sticism different the way he dun't say he's crazy. So you come into a new team, Mark Jackson's the

head coach. Steph's second year Monte Ellis was the last hangover and b drints from the We Believe teams. That question, did you eleven? Because it was drafted eleven? Yeah, and the right had number one. It was number one in Pullman. But I'm like, Levin is cool. Yeah, I figured that. I never knew why, but I did figured that. Yeah, I figured, yeah, it makes sense. Eleventh kids, eleventh letter in the alphabet worked out without you even knowing. Right.

So new team Mark Jackson's step second year Monte Durrell right, be a drinks. David Lee, what was it your first taste in the n like just left? Yeah, y'all, just that's crazy. I was just before, right before it was. I was just so excited to be there. I had no ambition to win nothing, you know, all star, but every day was like Disneyland. Man. I'm like, I really after this my whole life I'm just trying to get some run in and it was amazing, man, just watching

Monte and de Lee out there. I was like, I can't believe, like the moment wasn't big from at all for me. I'll be so nervous. I'll never forget Christmas Day opening night. I got my ball, I got I went off for a pansy layup and DeAndre Jordan's slapped at the half courts so loud. I was like, Oh, I didn't see that in the Pac ten. It was crazy. Then? Was that the was that the lockout year was out? Yeah, that's right, Yeah, I remember and d Wright, Nate Rob Deeley.

They got stacks of cash on the table. They're playing Boo Ray. I'm like, this is different in the league, man, we got this is the most money I've ever seen. You know, we got a nice stipend checking at Wazoo, but this is crazy stack so big. And then he learned because like mante was our little home in mont was a nineteen eighteen. Never took a shower, only took bass, never tattoos. Yeah, no, no task. So we'll tell you the story was so that that was the last game

of the season. We were up in sack and the tattoo artists that did a cross right here on my arm. My little homeboy from high school. He came and did the same tattoo on Monte this keyma is the last game of the season. Remember when you were sweating when he got the tattoo. This dude comes back the following season when more tattoos. Unbelievable, when all the flood games, that's amazing. What was I'm gonna take it forty eight against the thunder Now, I was like, I was unbelievable.

I was on the bench all the time. I was like eight and who was went next to me? Earle what was his name? Earl Baron? I think the big dude. Yep, you just kept saying forty eight peace McNugget. I was like, you know, he made it look so effortless, all right, get him going right? Yeah? Over quick post all star break, you had like you had been there before, seven points of game from the behind the three point line. Uh.

What was your rookie season? Like? Overalls, get the chance to just get your feet wet, and then the second half of the season really starting to make a name for yourself. It was amazing. It was amazing. It was one because it was also new, and when I got that chance to start, I mean, I was just every night was huge for me, just to prove they made the right selection. And I remember having a really good game against my idol Ray Ray Allen at the time.

I remember Darren Rman introducing us at the half court and just telling like he's like play just watch him work out and you can be on a similar path. And I'm like, the greatest three point shoot of all time, stay less, stay less, Darren. So I very grateful for for making that introduction because that was another moment my rookie year, like playing against Kobe, Like I'll never forget Ray took the time to talk to me at mid

court right before the game. I just got put in the starting lineup, and I really want to have a good game that night because this I was just watching the Celtics in the championship a year before, two years before, so I was like, man, if I have a good game against these guys, just like four Hall of famers over there, like and I might, I know I have a shot. And I had like seven on thirteen shots that night, and I think but KG gained us from the top of the key. I'm not gonna lie though.

All back then I wasn't really consuming winning like I had twenty seven Right, Yeah, that's what you said against Right. I was like, I'm just happy he took the l But just how your mindset changes from when you're twenty one years old. That was an amazing moment for me playing against the Celtics. That's dope. So you're to Draymond comes in the picture. You guys win forty seven games. It's hilarious. Man, I'll never forget Like Draymond is a

second round pick. Had you made a lot of money, yet he's sitting at the Boo Ray table talking crazy. I'm like, who is this? We are nuts, Like I don't even know how to play this game. That's how I knew. He was like why are different? Leacause I'm like, Wow, Drey's out here gambling with the big boys, like he's not even phazed. He found like I like him from the jump, right from the jump. What was your impression to him? Because you guys starting to slowly kind of

start to transcend basketball. You and Clay are you and Steph and them being on the same page Draymond's added to the mix. When did you guys feel like that chemistry really starting to kick in? Mm hmm, definitely when we it was we were talking about this in Tokyo. Actually, when we beat the Miami Heat in Miami on like a Draymond game, I think I came off uh downpick Jared Jack hit Draymond wide open for a layup. There's like point three left. We celebrated that night like we

won the championship, like jumping up and down. We just beat the Heatles like we thought we were host up. But when we did that, and we're all in early twenties and I'm like, man, maybe we could have bill something special here. But that was those little victory that wasn't a little victory at the time that I was. We were so happy. If you go back and watch that clip with Drama game winner, everyone's rushing off the bench for hugging each other. It was like a Game seven.

It was crazy. So when we did that and I saw how Draymond didn't back down to Lebron that game, he was talking mess like this guy was crazy. Man, He's out even talking crazy to anybody, and he just he's always been he's the same way to this day, and that's what makes him go and makes our team go. Um. Oracle is a different kind of place whether you're winning or losing. But when you're winning, in particular, favorite Oracle moment with that crazy crowd out there. Oh man, so many,

Oh man, there's a lot. Man. Even the first playoff series we had, it was so loud in there against the Nuggets. Steph went crazy. That's coming out party. So it was he got on the cover of Sports Illustraight. I was like a little jealous, man, I want to be on coach. What's It was great until the first the first finals run too, because it's like, man, we seeing that banner, I'm thinking about forty years in the

city of Oakland, Like it's just crazy. That first run was special, man, And you could tell the fans not just in the arena, but outside of Oracle get crazy in the parking lot off on seventy three, all the way down to downtown Oakland on Broadway. It would be just get that love from the city of Oakland. And you could because you know, Oakland's been through a lot. It's gotta like we all know, it's not a like it takes a lot to make it out of Oakland,

and like people are so prideful there. It's a and the fuel to be a source of pride for it. Oakland people's was we didn't take that likely, man, We bore that with great pride and they that's why they loved y'all so much. And we believe left such a legacy because they really saw themselves and you guys, and we didn't take that lightly. For real, we were like, it's for Oakland. This is for the people who might not be able to go to game and just to

see how much love will you get from everybody? Man? It was special. It still brings chills to me. A lot of people don't know the history in the Oakland, not only just diverse history, but the black history. Absolutely, it's a rich history as the migration now from the South and just being a haven for black culture. Man, all the town that comes out of that city. It's not that big a city. It's like five thousand people.

I just thinking the musicians, athletes, It is incredible, well wide trend Sttors really talked to him, Uh, Mark Jackson, how instrumental was he kind of laying the foundation? He gave you and Stephie early on when people thought he was crazy talking about, you guys are the greatest shooting backcourt in the history, like made you guys believe it, you guys turned into it. But how instrumental was he

uh in kind of setting that your young NBA foundation? Man, Mark's amazing and he told him to call his bluff too, and they were trying to dog him for it, but he was just always so of himself and the confidence he had with playing that era of Michael and Magic and against Larry and talking about about playing against those teams and like the swaggy he had just being out

of New York. I didn't know a lot of New Yorkers back then, and Mark was like he would make fun of me for being from the Birds and saying with Steph and he was just like a he was like another player to be around. And I just love talking about him, like talking to him about like where Reggie would want it, or like how you guys would guard Mike or anything. And it was he really made our identity defense to start, and he was just I'm not afraid to call us out. And I appreciated playing

from Mark Man. He gave us so much comments we needed and we were young. We needed that. We needed coach to you know, bring that fire out of us. M hm. When did you know Steph could be one of the greatest man? Probably? Uh, shoot, I mean when I saw him Davidson, like like no one was doing that, Like he was shooting from thirty thirty to fort with ease and his dribble blues were crazy. But when I got on the floor with them, probably shoot, Probably that's

nugget series. When I saw him just taking transition pull up threes like it was a elbow jumper, like it was. It's crazy. He really just he made it look so effortless to even watching to day, I'm like, Yo, this man is ball Hanley is crazy. Just those between his legs, he sets up his shot like it's nothing. I'm like, it's really He's so unique in his style of play man. He's been like that since day one. He's just gotten

stronger and better. Steve Kirk come not only the experience of being a multi NBA champion one the time INBA champion, but yeah, I win sixty seven that year. What did he unlock for y'all? Steve helped my game out so much, especially allow Draymond to be our point forward, like Draymond is really the quarterback and for me and stepped to play off the ball and fully utilized or catching shoot arsenal Man. It made it so much easier, not only for us, but for like Harrison and Bogs and now

Andre is getting wide open ux h b is. I'm getting the swing. Swing Like we went from lasting league to passes made per game to first in one season, and I think that just unlocked everything. And when he sixties seven games the first year, so it's crazy, like he really, uh just there's a visionary with when it comes to the offensive playbook, man he took and but then you see who he played for, it's like, oh,

he took something from every year. I was just about to say that because a lot of people don't know, but san Antonio played a lot through the fore man, a lot of the offense, a lot of the sets are ran through the fore man, you know what I mean. So that's just that's he learned. The lock from Pop two was the first of five consecutive All Star selections. How was it being named to the All Star Game for the first time and what was one of your

favorite members from being All Star. My first year of being there was my favorite memory, just because I was there with all of everybody I grew up watching, and it was in MSG moment was way too big for me by the back side of the bar, and my mom told me a funny story. She's like, man, I'm sitting next to this little New York kids. He kept saying. It was that like dad Clay can't make a shot, Dad Clay's broke, That Clay sucks, just like we're in the garden and I got to go against staff with

three point contest. But that this whole weekend, like being the first backcourt to start All Star games, to think like seventy nine, it was. It was surreal, man. And being there with you know, the Dirks, Tim duncan even k d These guys seems so old to me. It's like, man, I feel like I've been watching all for twenty years. It's crazy to be without like, uh yeah, all that elite time on Carmelo. It was special. Man, it was special. I'll never forget that. The first one is always the best.

You play Lebron without Kyrie and Kevin Love, big difference ain't it. Yeah, oh my gosh, chasing no offense. But Chason Dell doll around compared to Kyrie Irving, my goodness, my goodness, and even kay Love though he's he was like that was. That was a nasty big three. Man, That was a nasty big three. They all brought the best tell of each other and still beat him in six. Yeah, but the fact that they got even two wins is a testament to like Braun and they had great I

mean the role. Guys did their job. Schump was a tough to like, they had toughness on that team, that's why. And they had shooting around Lebraun. That's why. It's like if you don't put shooting around them, you're not gonna get the most out of it. So they were still really good. Obviously not twenty six team, but they didn't shot away from the moment and like they had us on the ropes down to one, we had to question ourselves, like, man, we really want this, but it was it was awesome, man,

Like that was that was surreal. We got the job done. But yeah, but brought as a beast, My goodness, he was like a triple double that series. I don't care what the shooting splits were he had to shoot all the shots and it's incredible. Then I give the other guys credit too, because just they didn't deflate when Kyrie and Kayleb went out. They almost got better and saw an opportunity. So it was a it was a fun series, Man, Man, Man Man. Both know what they feel like to be

NBA champions. But winning that first championship for you, that x he of I'm not gonna finish my career without being the champions, Like what was that feeling? It was the best, especially in my fourth year, like I couldn't. I just in the forty years seventy five, last time the Warriors raised a banner, like you said, get that monkey off our back. We knew we would be remember forever, but no, no way we thought we would build a

dynasty like prior toeen. But the fact that we I was so happy, Man, I'm at a party a little too much a month after. But I ain't no such thing. You know what if you would have told me in Pullman, I was in Pullman three years before life. I just hope I get there and then four years a m NBA champion, like I couldn't believe that All Star, All NBA and a champ in the same season. Yeah, that was the best basketball year in my life. And want to gold medal with the t m USA, Like you

know what I'm saying. So like, I did have a lot of fun that summer. I know how to have more fun these days and not be so like. That's why I really learned. Like, dang, he's fools on the internet are trying to kill us out here. Man, I'm just year olds. What do you what do you expect Clay Thompson out there in Vegas getting worked on all this? I'm like, who has to write this for a living man?

This is pathetic? Liketh want to be there. It took me a while to accept that and just be myself like, look, I'm probably not the first one to have two good a time at the Lost AGAs pool party, but suddenly won't be the last. All right, how was that worked? Though? It was not worth it? Man, it was not worth it. My family saw that. All they did do is smh, just like this taking guy, It's not worth it. But at the time, in the present moment, I was so happy. I wasn so I can tell me his son is

coming down. Championship signs are coming out. Yeah, I was partying in pullman, guy, like come on in Vegas with the way, you know, like life comes fast sixteen. Yeah, it comes at you too fast? Right here? We come ready or not? Two thousand sixteen? Uh, you guys eclips the Chicago Bulls. Man, seventy three and nine? What was leading up? What talks about the finals? Like? What was it? I mean, you guys were on the pace early on. What was every what was the energy like around every

single game? Oh? Man, it was special. That was a special season. We didn't finished the job, but that's a sea and I'll never forget. Man. Remember one point we were fifty and five. At one point, I'm like crazy and there and Rick Carl said it was like when the Rolling Stones come to town. You know. I was like, that's hilarious, more like bone Thugs and harmony because you know, yeah, Rick, we know you all. I'm just playing. That was the best. That was a special year. Man. Every game was just

like the team wanted to beat us so bad. We're getting hate from the old heads like oh this team will get smacked by the Bulls and like we know, all right, we just want to. We're just doing our job. What I mean, I've come to also realize like it comes from a good place. They're just we're all just competitive. And I'm not gonna I'm definitely in twenty years not gonna be like these guys are the best. Now, I'll

be like, no, were the best? Uh? Game six in the Western Conference Finals that year against the thunder Down three to the road, forty one and eleven excuse me, forty one point eleven for eighteen from the three point line. You guys come back and win that series? Game six, Clay about who he is? The beginning of the game, The beginning, man, that was. I just, you know, we had obviously everything working against us, like, oh, look at these failures. They're about to blow the best season of

all time. So I just thought in my mind, like, man, you gotta empty the clip, like we can't go back to the Bay with yeah, you have a few more tis. What are we doing here? So I just remember coming out the gate early that game and it felt good. Everything was in rhythm and just have to be one

of those nice man. It's just I barely remember the moments, honestly, but I watched the all you watched the footage, you'd be like, I can't believe got shot that shot and went in like a lot of them, Like dang, a lot of them here. They had some nice rams out there. But I was secial. Man's still a special team. We didn't finish the job, but that was such a special season. Hope, I hope that record is still dear in my heart. Man, you should So you get to the finals against braun

Um again again round two? Uh, what's the game plan? Obviously you knowing what he did kind of single handedly with all the respect the first time. Second time around, what's your guys game planning approaching them in the finals? This start? Man, you say like I'll make the others beat us. But then like braun and Kyrie get going and then you overhelp and j R. Smith can shoot, Kevin Love can shoot, James Dones, all of them, all their role players could really shoot. So it was actually

a great matchup. Like personnel watch both teams was you can see there's a new era of who's being played Like no traditional center and we're not. It's all very guard heavy. Lebron is really a guard and having gosh, so exhausting. I'm so grateful for Andrew just thinking like having to chase Kyrie around those seven games was exhausting. Man. Why I bet some people don't realize that you were the one that always took the best player on the other team, whether it be Dame Kyrie. But we're still

able to do it on the other end too. Yeah, what would mean who played two guarden do the same thing, whether it's Mike, Kobe d Wade, the greatest to ever do it, even Ai left the league in steals, like the best players to play shooting guard played both sides of the ball. I mean, go way back to out who's Albert Robinson won dpo y like doing that? That's a beast mode. But uh yeah, man, that was a

tough series. But it's the other biggest regret I have in my basketball career, besides getting busted for the weed, was switching that pick and roll with Steph with Jr. And Kyrie. I still can't, like, I can't bring myself to watch that footage. It's it's too uncomfortable. You know, if you watch yourself, you know I can't. We just gave it that. Now, Kyrie got one of the greatest shots in NBA history, and I like, that's a great defender too. But I'm just like, man, I can't believe

I concede that switch. It still burns. You never get over things like that was the game plan at the time, right, Yeah, But I'm like, when I look at the footage, I'm like, that was a pretty I could have got. But just but just saying, you don't. Yeah, both of y'all go when you get you know, but like you gotta go one over picking Pop and jail Kyrie with his tough contested three. You gotta take that, Yeah, you gotta take it.

That was a that was a dagger thoughts. When Draymond gets suspended, I knew we still a chance, Like it would be so much harder, you know it is. Draymond's are hard and soul. Did you think he deserved to get kicked up? Honestly I didn't at the time. Yeah, I thought he got stepped over. And I was like, man, he's defending him. So what happened to someone you're supposed to just steps over? Everybody? Ain't t lou here you go.

I'm just saying to you it took Tie out of it. Hey, I stayed with them after wet thrown down him to the face and he just he just took for a time, but he was there checking him. Man to check him like that. But man, yeah, that we can still do it with Dre but it would just be so incredibly difficult. Ironically, the game Draymond's out, both Braun and Kyrie go for forty first time there and finally go for forty apiece, I'm like, could you use so you guys end up

losing that. Um the following season gold falls into your hand. Kevin Durant comes and joins you, guys, what's your initial thought? Oh, it's over, It's over. Here was over. I knew what everybody would be so mad and we went from my little darlings like somewhat hating but pure hate. Yeah, talk to us about that Hampton. Uh, sit down you, Katie, Steph dre Iggy Rich, my guy Rich Clemens, shout out Rich.

It's the first time to happen, one of the happens and the film I've been on the same, bridging the cultures together. Well that was special, man. The first time I ever been in the Hamptons, Like, this is beautiful, It's where you summer, Katie, This is this is where you just sounds like sounds like j C. Were actually in New York for like five days prior to that New York's crazy. Man. We were Our days were like we were like vampires. Bro. We were starting days at

six pm and go to sleep at six am. Four straight. Nice, get us out there, get us to the Hampton's Sustainable, Sustainable. Why are we doing this to each other? But that was fun. Man, that was such a good time. And I just when I would think about bringing Katie on board, I would think about the stories my dad would always tell me about playing with Magic and Kareem and James Worthy. He's like, yeah, I'll get to I thought, I'll get

to practice earlier every day. And I would see Kareem practicing sky hook thirty minutes before practice every day, and I saw the same parallel with Katie and stuff. I was like, man, I thought, I'm not really early. But I would get there and Katie's out there in full sweat doing his mid range pull ups, his spends his every one of his moves. I'm like, dang, man, this guy really wants this is I'm gonna tell my kids about this one day in here and see Steffan Kadi

working out basket is crazy. I just remember my dad telling me those stories about cream magic. I'm like, that's so cool. Man. History really repeats itself. And it wasn't anything like, oh I gotta get less touches or I just knew like we could really do something special and having Man, we were two games away from three peting and that has been done since Shock and Kobe. So that's what our goal wasn't one championship, two championships. I remember Bob Myers like Clay should come to New York.

You guys can realistically win five six chips together. And I was like, Bob, you're talking a while, but I'm with it. Let's go. So you pick up k d uh, you guys win back to back championship ups. Um. I get a chance to join that seventeen team, I've never seen nothing like it. From a standpoint of I think the Clipper team I played on was probably one of the most talented teams I played on, but it seems like we just continue to get in each other's way.

When I came to that team, Like you said, the thing the ship that blew me away was Steph and Katie now were on the same court doing their workout. You were on the other side of the court doing your workout. Iggy had his court, Dre had his court, and sitting like, guys, where I'm gonna shoot this? I would just wait, but I would sit down and watch because you see Clay on one side, and Clay would

missed two or three shots his whole workout. Then you see Steph and Katie doing this weird one banip with Steve Nash, and I'm like, these motherfucker's are missing. So I wouldn't mind waiting thirty or forty five minutes because I got to see, you know, three of the greatest shooters ever to do it, just every single single day doing it like every day. But what was that? What was that run? Like? I mean, Katie's presence in the finals, the finals, MVP, it was it just seems so effortless,

But what was the what was that run? Like? For you? It was special? Man. That's why I bothers me people on talk about Kevin's greatness. This man average thirty five and fifteen the finals, don't even looking playing hard. I'm like, effortless. That's like shock numbers, Like, what are we doing here, Like it's like he's a bus rider all this time. Like you can't argue with the numbers. If that's what I'm over here. If you need me on play some defense,

like I got you. I was special, Bro, He's just winning the game, knowing he was gonna win if you just handle your business. It was like there's almost nothing they can they can do too. It's just, man, that's why injuries sucked, man, because Kauai really scared us that first game. I was like, man, this dude's a beast. He's come down the lane. I'm so happy to see him back out here because he's really one of the

kind as well. But to go sixteen and one, like only us and the oh one Lakers did that, Bro, That's that's incredible, man. I don't we don't take that for granted. Man, that was a Worrior fans, you've been blessed with some incredible seasons. But it's all honor like, but man, sixteen and one of the playoffs. But it says a lot about y'all to play because to to have four Hall of Famers and bringing Katie and all y'all be on the same team, to put egos and

everything aside for that long to be that great. That says a lot about y'all um all buying into one goal and it's about winning, you know what I'm saying, you know, And it's hard to see that when you have four players with y'all countible on the same team. But guys put all the egos aside and put that ship to work like that factual. Yeah, but it was. Yeah, when you know you can win banners though, it made a little easier. Yeah, yeah, it's great. Yeah, it was

some the best times in my life. A great run. Did you see the time with him coming to an ends or anything that kind of jumped out at you or it was just time he felt like it was time from he felt like it was time to go. I don't blame we don't blame Kevin for leaving it all. He was from the East Coast, and if I was on the East Coast and I had a great almost two games away from three pieces, like what more all

want for me? Man? You want six? You know? Like it wasn't for catastrophic things like we probably would have had three championships in that time. But uh man, we don't we don't blame it at all. We know we kind of wanted to bounce a little bit. I mean, go back home and we'll still forever have those two going back to back and gosh so close. Remember his boy Randy, I saw him in the gym. That's something He's like, Man, I wanted that this first thing he said.

He's like, man, I wanted that three pet bad. I was like me too, But what can you do? Man? That's when I learned about injuries, and that's part of the game person major person major injury happens game six of the finals. Talking about that. What was going on through the head? Oh man, I was about to punch that until no, no ill ill feelings towards Danny though, because we've met each other at the rim many times before,

that just landed awkwardly. I was playing with the uh strained hammy, so it might have been a little more at risk, but like you're not gonna sit out at NBA Championship with a strain hammy. Like yeah, I'm talking about like, no, no, when this wolver come back. So I was having the best kid, my best Finals game ever. Two I was on. I felt like I couldn't be stopped that night and you know. It was eight thirty

on twelve shots. I was like, I'm show getting forty, don't win playing with house money like at that point. But I remember when I did it, I never felt anything like that. Was like I felt my knee shift like that was weird. But you're drawing so high you don't really got up. Yeah, I got up and I felt good. I was running around and they when did you know, uh, probably when I took the m R. When Rick came over and gave me like a not just a hug, but like a really emotional hug and

like paddling back. But I didn't think it was that. The first one didn't affect me that much because I was out there in front of the world. I put it all out on the line, so I was like I can accept this, like I gave it everything I had in this season. The second one, when I got hurt, That one hurt my heart because I was just playing pick up. I was so ready to get back after

watching the season, and then I did. I did the same move I've done a thousand times, just a rip right to driple pull up and I came down and it felt like someone kicking in the back of the heel. I look behind me and immediately knew, like, this is some bowl. This is crazy. I knew I did it immediately, and that was hard for to me accept because it was like, man, I was working so freaking hard up

to that point. All that, like no one sees at that time when you're in the gym doing the leg press, doing the peloton, and I know it's our job, but man, it's exhausting when you can't just play basketball and you just have to. And it was that that one hurt. But man, it was It's in the past. Now you think compensating so much, Yeah, I think I was tooer

on that one. I think I was a little above my playing weight, and I think I was too eager to get back and play my way into shape and proved everyone I'm still who I am instead of like taking time, Yeah I don't really take my time. It was I was jumping way too fast into it. And I learned the hard lesson like, look, man, you and your thirties now, like you can't just hoop like you're twenty three anymore. So that's life and now just way way more methodical with things. It's the saying you never

know how strong you are. Too strong is your only option? Did you find that in you when you went those two years? Because I know that had to because when basketball taking from us, I went through it with the brawl, when they suspended me thirty games, I didn't know, you know, I didn't know what I was gonna do mentally, but the game, when the game is taken away from us, you can't explain that feeling to nobody, and it's taken

away from you too crazy inries. Yeah, I know, it's funny too because people are like, well, you know, they're away talking about how much you get paid and all this was like, yeah, well I never got into business. That's a by product of what we do. But I just really love everything. I love to play basketball, you know, my favorite movies or basketball films, my pastes on the walls, or my favorite players. Like so it was I did

some soul searching and I had time to reflect. But man, I still had some moments of weakness, like I would cry like a baby on the bench, like yeah, you know, like that was hard for me when I had to walk when you know, we're our guys going through the season. That's why I'm so grateful for Andre, Steph and Draymond because I'm sitting there watching like and I'm hearing the crowd and just like I can't believe this happening again. And I couldn't shake that from my head. And Steph

came over. I was like, no, it was just this was in this was in the spring of I forget who you're playing and I was just on the behind the bench. I couldn't move. I was just like felt frozen almost like I remember saying that. I was so angry, and Steph told me, he is, like, You're gonna play so much basketball after this, don't. I couldn't see that at the time. I was like, I just kept saying, like my career was supposed to be like this, this

is bullshit, isn't fair. I was feeling sorry for myself. But to see it through, like yeah, I knew. I I'm grateful for those guys. They didn't have to do that name. They showed me a lot of love that day. The season, it's a roller coaster. You come back, you guys, make a run, You face Boston in the finals, walk us through that finals. O, man, that was a good man. I give the Celtics a lot of crap. That's a good young team over there. Man. They reminded me because

I was having a great playoff. I was like looking at and I was like, man, I'm shooting the crap out the ball defending. But then when I play against those young bucks there, I'm like, man, these guys are good. I can't get away from Jamsen Brown. Man, it's got to bring down my net. The same as smart you got the rim. Robert Williams there, he's blocking everything. So

that was a that was a hard fought finals. Man, that's a two way team out there, and we went I told everyone, I was like, this is so similar to we're down to one. We haven't really figured these guys out yet, but we're right there. Of course, some media members try to ridicule me, but we got the last laugh again and again. But uh no, I just got a lot of respect for that team over there. Man. They made us work. That wasn't easy like we had might have been in six games, but we had to

scratching claw to win that series. And shout out to staff. Obviously greatest shooting series in the history of the Finals, potentially in same with Join the Pool that that half course shot he hit that pretty much wants the game in Game five like that was a momentum killer for the Celtics. Andrew Wiggins getting doubled up after eighteen and nine in the finals. Some power forward right there, who can guard the best player? Draymond doing this thing defensively,

loon on the boards, auto hit big shots. Gary. We had contributions from everybody, and you know, it gets a little tighter that part of the year. What I love about Draymond that series. He knew he wasn't gonna be effective on offense. He wasn't being that effective on defense. So you know what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna make this ship a prison ball. Y'all want to fight or whatever I gotta do to win this game, I'm gonna

make sure my tea is on the winning side. If I got get kicked out this motherfucker, whatever I got to do, I'm gonna do something to make us win. And and and that was his attitu, you know what I'm saying. And I love I love that about him because you gotta contribute some type of way. He realized he was hurting y'all for a minute more than he was helping y'all for a couple of games, and he realized that, but he sat down right. You know what what I do best. I go out there and play

harder than anybody out there. And that's what he did. And you've seen it. You've seen the series shift. Game five, I'm telling you when Drey got that steel at half court and got the you gotta dunk early and then you got the steal half court too, I knew it was hard to win. And even game six, he I knew we'd figured it out. It was like, y'all can't keep up Draymond, make him when they count. I've seen it too many times and he was cash. So Dre's just a gamer man that's game like. He's skill level.

Not might not be Kevin Durant or Steph Curry, but man, he's like you said, he's gonna make it so hard on you. Yeah, wer paray looked amazing. Uh you accidentally truck stick someone part of the parade. I'm sorry. Uh talk to us about that parade and heard the locker room. You ended up in the locker room. Uh laid out in the hot time with the bottle. How to use

all the resources? Uh? That was but for you. I mean, like I said, it had been a fucked up a couple of years, you know what I mean, And when you were out it hurt, and you came back that year and you're able to win. Like, how did that emotion hit you? Man? I was that all came out that day. I knew I was doing something right when Snoop Dogg re posted on his Instagram like I really

made it. Snow gave me the repost this is great, and then, um god, I felt so good man, just to see the all the Warrior fans and a whole new city, I'm like, this is crazy. Were really the base team? Now we brought one of this to the city San Francisco and go down and brought the street. I forget what street it was, but it was special, man. It was just a and the and then the experienced everybody else's first championship, like the guy who's been doing

it for a long time, and even the youngsters. I'm like, this is so special. That's a ball will have forever, like we'll forever have the reunions and checking in on each other. So it all came out that day. It felt like thirty six months of just in motion in one day. Backtrack a little bit. We're almost finished sixty points on eleven dribbles in less than thirty minutes. How then does that happen? Flame Thrower. Yeah, it helps having

Katie and step out there too, and Draymond. I mean that makes it more impressive though, too, because you've got some other go get hers that they didn't care about that. Yeah, yeah, I mean the ball just I don't know how I kept finding me it is, I don't know how I did that. Felt. Sometimes I do things, I'm like, I don't know. I just go out there and do it,

like I don't know. I just got lucky. But man, I'm trying to tell Steve next time, Like Steve, it took me out with fourteen threes and twenty eight minutes. It took me out with sixty and twenty nine time this happens. Let me, let me, let me just just one time, just let me get let me try and go for it. Yeah you know that game to fourteen threes? Yeah, Greig, that night I was scuffling, man. I couldn't hit the backside of the barn again. As from NBA J and

that was my game. I was scuffling. Man, I couldn't. I was like five for thirty seven all in my own head like contract, You're like, oh, man, did I lose it? Did the Moss Stars stealing my talent? And then I just man, I got twenty four threes that game.

That don't tell you where the game's at. Now. I don't know what else does like four threes they wanted the showtime Lakers want to shoot them those in the calendar, and that only eight minutes playing forty minutes and see how many guys I could have got up thirty three made like sixteen seventeen. Who knows if I'll do it again one day. That's it. I know that all this sportsmanship stuff. Hey, sports is entertainment, you know. I'm trying to show, don't hate on my don't hate on my shot. Yeah,

I want to run that reck. That's why, Like when you set a wreck, you want to run that thing broken because they're coming for what they're coming for, exactly outside of your team and teammates. Who's someone you love to watch, Uh, that's a great question. I love watching play um. I like watching Paul Kawai because me and Paul were on the same Mayu team, so see him doing his thing. We're on the second team to double pump both of you guys, second team. We both lay boomers.

You know, it's all good. Who else do I like to watch in today's league? I love watching Luca. I mean just because you look at his numbers and you think, like, oh, he must be dunking on everybody, just blown by people. But you just hit like thirty ft step backs and floaters. I'm like, man, he really shows that if you just know the fundamentals that have the skill level, you can

do anything. Not st Luke's not a He's a great appy, but he's not He's definitely not playing a room a long time, like watching you, honest, because I'm like, I've never seen a seven footer just gallop the way he does. Like that's crazy, Like he's nuts, Like it's crazy what he can do, no open floor. Have you ever met fake Clay? No man, laugh though he's stuck in the five, didn't get in trouble though, he got like I'm not gonna say free fake Clay, but I mean that was

a mission impossible, ask like operation right through. Man. He got buckets on the court saying they got buckets on the NBA Finals. Believable. Just Man was in character shape. I'm looking at him like, dude, you can't way out of your playing days. What you need real play to meet fake Clay one day? Get some love. When you have an impersonator, that's when you know you made it, Jackson, impersonators, impersonator, this is crazy. Um, off the court, what kind of

stuff are you into? Business? Relax? What kind of stuff are you into? CBD? Yeah, I'm into like I got

some business ventures. Um. I mean I learned this from Kobe, like investing what you know, and he always said if it didn't have sports to the limb, it was hard for him to get him behind me because it's kind of the program the way we just how we are, with the amount of time we spent honing our craft and with my CBD line, I think of, you know, the pharmaceutical business and opiate addition is no joke, Man,

kill your liver and your inside. So I was more attractive to organic and homeopathic way of just a sleep gummy, some roll freeze cream. It helps me so much, man, and I do that doses through out the season because you know how he is playing all these games you adrenaline and from the ale you need something to wind down. And I've been through it. My body has been through a lot. And I invested in a electric boat company

to which I'm proud of. Uh it's called Arc Boats, and they're like you see what how electric vehicles are coming around, Like there's gonna be a day there's electric boats zipping around here and I don't want to go to the fuel dock anymore. So and then I got um my family Foundation, which I'm gonna get I'm involved, but it's so it's been hard these last few years

and the ten months candor year we have. But one day, I really plan on doing an incredible amount of work in the Bahamas, especially with the Basketball Federation because my dad came up there wasn't really a national team around then. It was Rick Fox and now seeing Buddy Hell, DeAndre Aden and Kai Jones. We got three dudes in the league from this little tiny island. Like imagine what I think about all the time, Like we can Yeah, the Thomas family can prove if we just go down there

and we get our hands to work. And do you guys play a golf tournament to raise money? Uh? Was that from something else. Yeah, we did inteen but I'm gonna start doing other things and um. But it's just a huge passion of mind because I love the Caribbean. It's where my roots are and I know we can we have a big reach, so I'm gonna maximize that.

Quick hitters. First thing to come to mind, if you could eat one meal for the rest of your life, it would it be not healthy clay though, Just you need any meal, man, I'm seafoods like surf and turf. I need a I need like a delicious filet and lobster tail or. Yeah, maybe some that s t K here we come. You know what I'm saying. What artists are are on your pregame list? Oh man, I'm man. When I was hurt, no, it really helped me. It sounds so simple. The power of music and just dancing

and in your body is incredible. Learn dance now the park height struck. I'm gonna be doing it soon. Yeah, shout out to Who's Who's tea some kids that came up with his dance. It's amazing that creativities kids have these days, and it's it's unbelievable. So I put on when I was in high school still this day have a bump bone Dougs. Yeah. Love Michael Jackson's music. It always makes me want to dance. Um nowadays are like little Oozy verd. I love his music and just he

sent me a goat d M. It was great. Is made shout out? Who else? Man? I gotta yeah, that was probably my top like this in the heaviest in my rotation. But I have a ton of a ton of music, man, I love I mean my boy commedia has been putting me on the afro B listen to a lot of it's vibe to get music from around the world. So here like whiz Kid or burn a Boy or Coffee. It's just it's cool. It's a different frequency.

Top five Shooters of all time, tah Man, it's five shooters of all time, Steph Reggie ray Man so hard. If you don't put yourself, I'm not even gonna swimwhere. Who else is fifth? Man? That fifth slot is so hard. I gotta choose between Kevin Durant, Larry Bird, just pure shooters. It's hard to not put Larry in there. Man. You want three three point contests like shot and it was water, But it's like, it's right there. It's like Larry, you

could throw one of them in there. It's tough, though. Man, what's something that Rocko does that makes you laugh the hardest? Barker Shadow. Every time there's a dog on the television, he's going crazy protecting the house. I like, you've been doing this for a decade now, Rocko, it's not real. That's just his bulldog nature. Uh, He's just Rocko is pretty snobby, man. It's I mean, I just raised. He's the first born. He's tending though. He's earned this, so

he's he's lived the life, he's earn this living. Who would play Clay Thompson in a biopic? No way is not right. He's gotta be light skinned it. He's gotta have great man, that's a great question. I don't know. It would probably be who's a good athlete and actor in one? It's harder, oh man, Off the top of my head, I don't know. I like a lot of Terence Howard films. Hustling flow for Brothers. He's a great

chore man. He's like cry on the scene. Who else can I think of who's kind of like my shade told? Maybe Michael Eally I was just about to say that Michael elysiered him as a splash bro. Yeah. Yeah, he's in a lot of great films. Think about they got still some stuff like playing Magic was like he was, Yeah, he's tiny in the Showtime Ship. Yeah did you like that? How do you like that? I mean I enjoyed it. I love John c Riley, Like we were talking about it.

And if you can see one guest on all the smoke, who would it be? Man? If I can see one guest, you have crazy bone on yet? No, if you could get a Bone Thug on that crazy lazy bish wish flash, I don't think y'all. That was the first. That's why I shout out to my mom in we had no business being there. Eight years old, Mike, he's ten years old. Friend Jacki's ten. She took us to the Rose Garden to see Bone Thugs live. It was changed my life.

I want to leave earlier, like wow, I was in the middle of Yeah, it was in the mix and we it was great. She even got a picture of us in front of the bone thought it was amazing. And then yeah, bro, well ball watch it. I'm pretty sure one of y'all watching wish crazy lazy one of y'all. We need to get you on the show. And Steph wants to be in Clay wants to be initiated as one of the bones as well. Yeah, and they're both completing from Cleveland. It's like, all right, yeah, be all right.

You know the time ago, thank you for your time. We want to also give you your flowers. Man. Like I said when we were talking earlier this year on the ESPN last year, you know, my favorite part of the season just to see you back. And I just think your energy and your enthusiasm, the way you carry yourself. The game missed you. We're happy to see you back

and back to yourself and being happy again. Man. So I appreciate you, appreciate your greatness and come on, without yall, we would not be the one of the reason I ride on the boat again. And so we appreciate you again. Clay Thompson all the smoke. You can catch us on Showtime Basketball, YouTube and the I Heart platform Black Effects. We'll see you all next week. A key