Return of Mavs guard Klay Thompson a celebration of Warriors legend’s commitment, desire

SAN FRANCISCO — Klay Thompson, dressed for the occasion in a double-breasted blue blazer and tan slacks, walked off the Dallas Mavericks’ team bus and entered the tunnel of the Chase Center for the first time as an opponent.

Over 400 employees of the Golden State Warriors lined the inner tunnels of the arena to wait for his arrival. The former Warriors sharpshooter was showered with praise as each employee tipped their captain’s hat as a salute to their longtime Splash Brother. Thompson smiled during his strut as he acknowledged his former colleagues for the first time since he left the Bay Area to join the Mavericks.

Inside the arena, thousands of fans waited for Thompson to begin his pregame workout routine. He received a rousing ovation upon his entrance, but it was just a fraction of how loud the arena sounded once his name was called during the starting lineups.

The Warriors premiered a tribute video about Thompson before their 120-117 win over the Mavericks on Tuesday, honoring a player who helped them win four championships in an eight-year span. More than 18,000 fans shook their captain’s hats — similar to the one Thompson often wore before games as a Warrior — to celebrate “Salute Captain Klay” night.

Thompson scored 22 points against his former team, tying his high with the Mavericks. He went 6-of-12 from 3-point range.

It was a fitting tribute for Thompson, who took a pregame victory lap around the court to soak the moment in before his competitive spirit forced him to lock back into the task at hand and huddle with his teammates.

What kind of player deserves a celebration of that magnitude?

“You have to be the one who hangs four banners and does it in a way that captures the heart of the fans,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr. “It’s not just the skill with Klay, it’s the commitment to the organization, the competitive desire.”

The celebration and competitiveness continued after the ball was tipped. Fans cheered every time Thompson touched the ball, especially on the first possession when Stephen Curry took a chance at guarding his former teammate. Thompson took a midrange shot and drew a foul, which sparked a smile from the Warriors star guard.

“I wasn’t expecting the first play where they put Klay on the block, I literally blacked out,” Curry said after the game. “I thought I was in training camp again where I was trying to get a stop.”

Thompson missed his first 3-point attempt, but splashed his second attempt late in the first quarter. He drilled back-to-back 3-pointers in the second quarter — a familiar sight in the Bay Area — and celebrated with Curry’s patented shimmy and his own signature running 3-point sign.

“It was an impromptu thing, but when you’re feeling it, you do stuff instinctually,” Thompson said. “I’ve done it before. I know Steph’s done it many times, so it was a fun, little playful thing to do. ... I play my best brand of ball when I’m playing loose.”

Tuesday night marked one of Thompson’s best performances since arriving in Dallas, matching his 22-point output on opening night against the San Antonio Spurs. Mavericks coach Jason Kidd was asked before the game why Thompson fits so well with Dallas, and the Oakland native pointed to his professionalism and work ethic.

“He’s a true pro,” Kidd said. “He comes to work and understands what it means to win. We can talk about his ability to shoot the ball, space and his gravity. ... When you talk about the big picture, that’s hard to find, and we didn’t have that. It was much needed and I think we got lucky to get him.”

The Warriors played on a gray court Tuesday for the Emirates NBA Cup, new scenery that suited the pregame ritual marking new beginnings for them and for Thompson.

Despite his initial comments that Tuesday’s matchup against his former team was “just another regular season game in November,” Thompson embraced being celebrated.

“It was a really cool experience,” he said. “I appreciate the fans very much. The captain’s hat ended up being a great touch since I’m such a passionate boater and I saw a lot of familiar faces in the crowd. That was a warm-hearted feeling.”

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