Green opens up about his deep friendship with Klay and the emotional moment he learned Thompson was leaving the Bay Area.
Draymond Green and Klay Thompson have one of the most wholesome relationships in modern basketball — a bond forged through over a decade of shared triumphs, struggles, and unforgettable moments with the Golden State Warriors. As two pillars of the Warriors’ dynasty, they built their legacy side by side, pushing each other to new heights while embodying the team’s gritty and unselfish culture. Their connection went far beyond the court because away from the hardwood, it was the perfect example of mutual respect, loyalty, and countless experiences that shaped both men personally and professionally. Green’s fiery leadership often balanced Thompson’s calm, understated demeanor, and together contributed to making the Warriors one of the most threatening franchises in the NBA.
Imagine Thompson calling Green to say he’s leaving the Bay after 13 seasons to join the Dallas Mavericks. It hit hard for Green, he says on the latest episode of Network with Rich Kleiman. After all, it wasn’t just about losing a teammate — it was like saying goodbye to family. Green tells Kleiman he was in the car with his wife and children when the phone rang and he accurately predicted, “This is Klay and he’s about to tell me he’s leaving.” The reasoning made sense. He wanted a change from the Bay Area but still gets a chance to compete for another ring, joining fellow NBA Finals champions Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis, and playing alongside Mavs rookie Cooper Flagg.
Their friendship, however, runs deeper than uniforms or city lines. In fact, Green tells Kleiman he even talks to Thompson more now than when they were teammates.
“When you see somebody every day, we don’t need to talk on the phone. But then a week go by and you like, ‘Yo, I ain’t talked to Klay.’ He’ll call me out the blue and talk about something for an hour and a half. And it’s like, man, I love that that’s our relationship that something could be bothering him in his life and he’s gonna call me and talk about it for an hour and a half.”
Be sure to catch the full conversation across Boardroom and Yahoo Sports platforms.
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