Klay Thompson was supposed to leave the Warriors during the trade deadline. But the Golden State passed what was projected to be a noisy affair, particularly quiet. For the first time since 2022, Stephen Curry and Co. didn’t make it to the playoffs. And while it would be easy to pin it all on the veteran wing, it is a little too obvious that the team as a whole was responsible for such a dismal season. Even amidst all this, Klay’s free agency looms large above the Warriors’ heads.

It was under such circumstances that The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that the Orlando Magic and Thompson have “mutual interest ahead of the summer’s free-agency period.” The man in question has talked, on several occasions, about how he would like to retire as a Warrior. In fact, the four-time champion made that quite clear when he accepted a bench role for the first time in 12 years!

Yet, according to senior ESPN writer Ramona Shelburne, GSW could have a chance at keeping Klay Thompson with the core. But how? “I think the way [the Warriors] approach him in whatever they’re going to try to sell to him is paramount… He needs to feel the love, the respect, because you’re probably asking him to take less if he stays,” she pointed out.

If they do succeed, why would he truly do so? Especially when other teams are willing to pay him more than the Dubs would. Again, Shelburne has the answer. And it’s just one word: Loyalty. 

“Deep down, he’s a Kobe guy. Kobe stayed with the Lakers. The teams were really bad at the end, but he stayed,” she explained.

Kobe Bryant wasn’t called a stone-cold killer on-court or ‘Black Mamba’ for nothing. The Lakers legend took great pride in his game and work ethic. He continues to influence young hoopers with his Mamba mentality. It wasn’t any different with Klay Thompson, either. In fact, Bryant’s place in Klay’s life goes beyond anyone, one might say.

Having had the rare opportunity to be in the presence of a legendary player like Kobe, a young Thompson grew up idolizing and paying special attention to the minute details of his game. Klay’s dedication and hard work weren’t lost on Bryant, either. Thompson was excelling as a basketball player in his own right when, during his junior year with the Cougars, he was suspended for the season finale against UCLA.

An officer smelled marijuana on him and cited him for possession of illegal substances. Kobe caught wind of the news and immediately called his father, Mychal, to relay a message to his son. “He said, ‘F**k that sh*t. Go be yourself.'” It was quite a hilarious moment to see that his father wasn’t a huge fan of curses. But Klay took those words to heart and delivered a record-setting performance!

Klay Thompson never took his relationship with Kobe Bryant lightly

Of course, since then, Thompson got to share the court (12 games) with Bryant until he retired. For the 5x All-Star, though, each game was a lesson. Lessons, moments, and memories that he cherishes to this day, have given him strength during the most difficult times of his life. He takes special care to emulate the basketball icon who left this world too soon, every day and every game.

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Remember when he drained his two free throws after tearing his ACL in the Finals against the Raptors? Does it sound familiar to something Bryant did? In 2013, perhaps? The Lakers were in a fix and Bryant wanted to make sure they made the playoffs. So, despite the torn Achilles, he walked to the charity stripe and made those two clutch shots to force the game into OT against a young Steph Curry and Klay Thompson-led Warriors!

Hence, it isn’t too difficult to see where Shelburne’s arguments in favor of the Splash Brother come from. His father, a former Laker himself, said, “He took pride in playing every game, just like Kobe did.” Yes, he won’t be able to replicate what Kobe Bryant did. But no one in the Warriors dynasty will ever say that Klay Thompson’s efforts were for nothing.

For now, though, all Klay Thompson wants to do is look back at his career and feel a sense of accomplishment. “I want to look back and say I gave it everything I had, just like Kobe did. I know Kobe can look back on his 20 years and say he maximized his potential. I want to do the same.” 

If he can get to do that with the team that drafted him and at the place he calls home, it would be one more thing he has in common with his idol. Here’s to hoping that is what happens.