Steph details emotional phone call from Klay about Warriors exit originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Steph Curry never thought it would happen.
But on June 28, he got a call. The call.
It was his fellow Splash Brother, Klay Thompson, who he had spent the last 13 seasons with terrorizing opposing defenses and winning four NBA champions as Warriors. But the 15-minute phone call marked the beginning of the end of an era.
Its one of those things where you never think youd ever have that conversation, Curry told The Athletic’s Sam Amick on Sunday while at Team USA training camp in Las Vegas. Even to the 11th hour, when I knew all the signs were pointing toward [Thompson and the Warriors] not finding a resolution on the contract, youre thinking, Maybe itll be one of those things where hed come out and say, Oh, we got it done.
You hold out that kind of hope. But, yeah, it was a rough call. When you hear him open up on the whys [of his decision], and just how much he appreciated the friendship and being teammates and champions that we were, theres no words that really do that justice. I know it was hard for him. You just try to keep it as cool as possible on the phone, because you dont want to be sobbing and going through that. There was a little bit (of tears). But its one of those things where I know when I see him in person, Ill be able to give him that energy properly.
They hung up the phone and, three days later, it was announced to the rest of the world that Thompson was headed to the Dallas Mavericks as part of a sign-and-trade involving six teams.
The following day, Curry shared a lengthy gutwrenching tribute to Thompson on his Instagram story followed by a heartfelt message.
Steph shared a message to Klay on his IG pic.twitter.com/IW3mUFfs3m
Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) July 2, 2024
Steph’s IG Story is emotional pic.twitter.com/FM3Ras8fwQ
Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) July 2, 2024
While it’s an emotional time for Curry and Dub Nation, proven by the tears that fell down his face during that call, Curry just wants his Splash Bro to be happy and is excited about Thompson’s fresh start with the Mavericks.
And when the time is right, Curry will give Thompson a proper sendoff to the Lone Star State sometime this offseason, when more tears can be expected.
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