Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors opened up about what happens on and off the court. Since 2015, the team has won four NBA championships. However, clashes between players still occur, and the Warriors’ star addressed the issue.
Recently, Thompson joined Michael Cooper on YouTube, where he revealed details beyond practices and games inside the NBA franchise.
A reality no NBA team escapes
According to The Sports Rush, Thompson explained that NBA players used to fight often without consequences. After all, basketball is a contact sport, and such moments were unavoidable. But now, with cameras, phones, and the internet, everything has changed.
Thompson also explained that rivalry and competitiveness extend off the court. “There will be moments when you argue with teammates or feel friction because we spend every day together, like a traveling band,” he said.
For Thompson, the competitive mindset starts with the coach and runs through every player on the bench. This creates normal clashes and arguments, especially when a championship is at stake.
“We’ve had a lot of fights… plenty of harsh words and hurt feelings. But at the end of the day, we all want to win. There were times of friction, whether it was Draymond and me, Steph and me, or Coach and me. It’s just part of it. You grow from that. You have to be man enough to leave it on the court and stay professional,” said the four-time NBA champion.
Still, once players put on the jersey, all those conflicts stay behind. Thompson believes that’s the professional way to handle things: forget incidents with teammates, think as a team, and not as an individual.
