The good times don’t last forever. Nor do the tough times.
But the memories, you carry those with you always.
So even though Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson is trying to put on a stoic face about his return Tuesday night in an NBA Cup game to Golden State for the first time since leaving the Warriors last summer – “to me, it’s just another regular-season game in November’ – the emotions will hit once he gets to the arena.
Too much happened for Thompson and with the Warriors. Four NBA championships. The season-ending injuries. The Splash Brothers. The game-changing 3-pointers. The friendships.
And it will be difficult for Thompson to view it as “just another regular-season game in November” when he sees 18,000 fans wearing Warriors-branded captain hats, a nod to the times Thompson drove his boat to practice and games.
Deep down, Thompson, the son of former NBA player Mychal Thompson, knows it’s a special moment, admitting, “You only get to do one thing so many times in your life.”
The Warriors drafted Thompson with the No. 11 pick in 2011, and he spent 13 seasons with the franchise, helping Golden State to titles in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022. He was a five-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA choice and one-time All-Defense selection.
Alongside Steph Curry, Thompson helped changed the game with his 3-point shooting, and the Warriors created a dynasty that also featured Draymond Green, Kevin Durant and coach Steve Kerr.
However, the parting was necessary – for Thompson to get a fresh start and for the franchise to chart a new course centered around Curry.
How to watch Mavs guard Klay Thompson’s return to Golden State
The Mavericks-Warriors game Tuesday at Chase Center is on TNT at 10 p.m. ET.
How is Klay Thompson doing with the Dallas Mavericks?
Through 10 games, Thompson averages 13.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists and shoots 41.8% from the field and 35.4% on 3-pointers in 30.1 minutes per game. The 5-5 Mavs, who lost to Boston in last season’s NBA Finals, acquired Thompson to bolster their 3-point shooting.
He scored a season-high 22 points in the first game of the season, making six 3s and setting a franchise record for 3s made in a debut.
Thompson was 15-for-33 on 3s in his first three games with Dallas but just 14-for-49 in his next seven games.
What are Klay Thompson’s Golden State highlights?
In his time with the Warriors, he averaged 19.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists and shot 45.3% from the field and 41.2% on 3s.
Thompson made 2,481 3s for the Warriors, which is No. 2 on the franchise’s all-time list behind Curry. He is No. 6 on all-time 3s made and is just 51 makes from passing Reggie Miller for No. 5).
He averaged a career-high 22.3 points in 2016-17 and made a career-high 4.4 3s per game in 2022-23.
In a game against the New York Knicks on Jan. 8, 2019, Thompson scored 43 points on just four dribbles. He was 18-for-29 from the field and 7-for-16 on 3s.
On Oct. 29, 2018, Thompson made an NBA single-game record 14 3-pointers and finished with 52 points against the Chicago Bulls.
Thompson scored a career-high 60 points against Indiana on Dec. 5, 2016 – and he didn’t play in the fourth quarter.
Thompson set another NBA record with 37 points in a quarter against Sacramento on Jan. 23, 2015. In the third quarter, he was 13-for-13 from the field, including 9-for-9 on 3s.
Follow Jeff Zillgitt on social media @JeffZillgitt