Klay Thompson returns to Golden State for NBA Cup game. That’s how you see

On By Littum

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The good times don’t last forever. Not even the hard times.

But the memories, you always have them with you.

So even though Dallas Mavericks Guard Klay Thompson tries to put on a stoic face about his return Tuesday night in an NBA Cup game for Golden State for the first time since leaving Warriors last summer – “for me it’s just another game in the regular season in November” – the emotions will hit when he gets to the arena.

Too much happened for Thompson and with the Warriors. Four NBA championships. The season-ending injuries. Splash Brothers. The game-changing 3-pointers. The friendships.

And it will be hard for Thompson to see it as “just another regular season game in November” when he sees 18,000 fans wearing Warriors-branded captain’s hats, a nod to the times Thompson drove his boat to practices and games.

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Deep down, Thompson, son of former NBA player Mychal Thompson, knows it’s a special moment, admitting, “You can only do one thing so many times in your life.”

The Warriors drafted Thompson with the No. 11 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-Star NBA selection and one-time All-Defense selection .

Along with Steph Curry, Thompson helped change the game with his 3-point shooting, and the Warriors created a dynasty that also featured Draymond Green, Kevin Durant and coach Steve Kerr.

The parting was necessary, though — for Thompson to get a fresh start and for the franchise to chart a new course centered around Curry.

Here’s how to see Mavs guard Klay Thompson’s return to Golden State

The Mavericks-Warriors game Tuesday at the Chase Center is on TNT at 10 p.m. ET.

How will Klay Thompson fare with the Dallas Mavericks?

Through 10 games, Thompson is averaging 13.8 points3.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists and is shooting 41.8% from the field and 35.4% on 3-pointers in 30.1 minutes per game. match. 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, made six 3s and set a franchise record for 3s 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, shooting 45.3% from the field and 41.2% on 3s.

Thompson made 2,481 3s for the Warriors, who are 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 January 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 October 29, 2018, Thompson set an NBA single-game record with 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 of an hour against Sacramento on January 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