The summer of 2025 has already delivered enough NBA plot twists to put “Succession” to shame—but nothing hit the nostalgia button quite like Klay Thompson’s surprise Instagram story. With a short and sweet “STACHE BROS! Wya @jordan_poole”, Klay sent Dub Nation into emotional overload. He shared a throwback workout clip featuring himself and newly signed Dallas Mavericks guard D’Angelo Russell but the message? That was meant for Jordan Poole.

And just like that, Klay Thompson managed to summon the ghost of Warriors’ past, the spirit of Splash Brotherhood, and the scent of Miami gym sweat in three words. That’s elite shot selection—on and off the court.

Let’s set the scene: the last time Klay Thompson and D’Angelo Russell were technically teammates was during the 2019–20 season. Problem was, Klay was out with a torn ACL the entire year, meaning their locker room chemistry never translated to actual on-court buckets. This summer, though, that changes.

With Kyrie Irving expected to miss a chunk of the season recovering from ACL surgery, the Dallas Mavericks swooped in and gave D’Lo a two-year deal worth around $12 million—pocket change in today’s NBA, but potentially a bargain if he clicks. Klay and D’Lo working out together in Miami? That was foreshadowing, not flashback.

And yes, Klay Thompson has now shared the floor with Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic, and Kyrie Irving… so D’Lo isn’t exactly headlining the all-time passer playlist. But this Mavs team—with Anthony Davis, Cooper Flagg, PJ Washington, and now Russell—is quietly shaping up to be one of the better lineups Klay has played with outside of the 2017 Warriors death machine.

If you thought the “STACHE BROS” tag was random, think again. That was Klay Thompson dialing up some good old-fashioned mentorship memories. His bond with Jordan Poole has always run deeper than locker room handshakes.

Back in April 2022, after a huge Warriors win over the Jazz, Poole described embracing Klay and said, “I just really wanted to show him I’m lil bro and I’m watching and I’m a fan for sure.” In return, Klay has always been Poole’s loudest advocate—even during rough stretches.

On Podcast P, Thompson reflected on watching Poole go 2-for-15 and then still hit the gym that same night. “That reminded me of my younger self,” he said. That’s not just respect—that’s passing the Splash legacy forward.

Even after Poole was traded, the connection stayed. “I can text Steph. I can text Klay. I can call them… that doesn’t go anywhere,” Poole told reporters. That’s not a quote, that’s a brotherhood in 5G.

The New-Look Mavs: Built to Launch

So what does this mean for Dallas? Well, the signing of D’Angelo Russell is more than just injury insurance for Kyrie. It’s about putting Klay Thompson back in his comfort zone—off the ball, curling off screens, launching from the corners like it’s 2016 again.

Russell averaged 12.6 points and 5.1 assists last season split between the Lakers and Nets. Those numbers may not pop like a Poole heat check, but paired with Klay’s off-ball mastery and Flagg’s do-it-all game, it’s the kind of move that makes perfect basketball sense. Especially since Klay’s days of trying to create off the dribble like a 2K MyPlayer are hopefully behind him.

Don’t forget—Thompson is now surrounded by length, shooting, and defensive stoppers. With Anthony Davis anchoring the paint and Cooper Flagg flashing rookie-of-the-year vibes, Dallas is cooking with something spicy.

The love between Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole isn’t just one-sided. Poole once called Klay a “proud vet” and said “his future is incredibly bright.” When a younger player calls his mentor “proud” and not “washed,” that’s pure respect.

And in case you forgot, Klay has always gone to bat for Poole—even during his lowest moments. After one late-season turnover in 2023, Thompson literally pointed to the championship logo on his jersey and reminded media, “We don’t win this without Jordan.” Not even Draymond could punch that kind of loyalty out of him.

So here we are. Klay Thompson has gone from Splash Brother to mentor to emotional compass. And now he’s finally sharing the court with D’Angelo Russell, sending love to Jordan Poole, and stepping into a Mavs team that might just surprise some people.

Whether or not they can contend in the West remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure—Klay Thompson isn’t mailing it in. He’s showing up with three-word shoutouts, elite spacing, and memories of titles past.

And with “STACHE BROS” officially reuniting, all that’s missing is Poole crashing the party mid-season. Come on, Mark Cuban. Make it happen.