When we think of Klay Thompson’s 13-year tenure with the Golden State Warriors — which came to an end on Monday when he agreed to a three-year, $50 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks as part of a three-team deal — we’ll think of the moments when he burned so white-hot that he threatened to reduce the entire gym to cinders. Like his NBA-record 37-point quarter against the Kings:
Or the time he scored 60 points in three quarters — on 11 dribbles — against the Pacers:
Or the NBA-record 14 3-pointers against the Bulls:
Or Game 6 of the 2016 Western Conference finals, when he made 11 3s and scored 41 points on the road in Oklahoma City to keep the Warriors’ season alive and forged the legend of Game 6 Klay:
Or Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals, when he had 30 points in 31 minutes in less than three quarters as Golden State tried to stave off elimination at the hands of the Toronto Raptors before landing hard after a fast-break dunk and foul by Danny Green, immediately grabbing his left knee, and needing help to get off the court and back toward the Warriors’ locker room … only to turn around, walk back onto the floor on what we’d later learn was a torn ACL, make his free throws and try to get back on defense before Steve Kerr took him out:
That night at Oracle wasn’t the end of the line for Thompson.