Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson trade trash talk with Drake after Game 2

The trash talk between Drake and the Golden State Warriors continues.

Klay Thompson exited Game 2 of the NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors on Sunday night with a hamstring injury suffered in the fourth quarter. Kevin Durant was not playing as he continues to recover from his calf injury. Though neither player was on the floor at the end of the win, they made their contributions with some trash talk.

KRON reporter Jason Dumas captured this video exchange which shows Thompson and Durant talking with Drake, the Raptors superfan/ambassador.

“Weren’t talking tonight were ya? With your bum a*s.”

Klay & KD had some words for Drake as they emerged from the locker room to greet their teammates after the Game 2 victory. @kron4news #DubNation | #WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/hGlIM17KA2

— Jason Dumas (@JDumasReports) June 3, 2019

“See you in the Bay, Aubrey. Weren’t talking tonight, were ya?” Thompson could be heard saying.

Aubrey is Drake’s first name by birth — he just goes by his middle name on stage — so that’s a jab from Thompson at the music artist.

Though the Warriors have been trading trash talk with Drake during the series, it’s all somewhat in fun considering Draymond Green got together with him.

Klay Thompson suggests he will not miss Game 3 despite hamstring injury

Klay Thompson does not seem to think he will miss any time despite suffering a hamstring injury in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night.

Thompson left the game in the fourth quarter after landing awkwardly following a 3-point attempt. He limped off the court and into the locker room. He was later seen limping out with ice on his hamstring as he congratulated his Golden State Warriors teammates on the 109-104 win over the Toronto Raptors.

After the game, Thompson told Yahoo’s Chris B. Haynes that he did not see himself missing Game 3.

Golden State star Klay Thompson, who suffered a hamstring injury, tells Yahoo Sports that he’ll be fine: “No, I don’t see myself missing Game 3.”

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 3, 2019

Thompson also told Warriors head coach Steve Kerr he would be fine.

Saw Klay in the locker room, and just as he had with Steve Kerr, he told me he intends to play Game 3 despite his hamstring strain. Also added that this is not as bad as the high ankle sprain he suffered in last year’s Finals (he didn’t miss a start after that injury either).

— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) June 3, 2019

Thompson told reporters he is planning to get an MRI. He will have two full days off to recover before Game 3 of the series at Oracle Arena on Wednesday. To give you an idea of his ability to play through injuries, Thompson did not miss any games in last year’s Finals despite suffering an ankle injury.

Klay Thompson leaves Game 2 with hamstring injury

Klay Thompson left Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night with a hamstring injury.

Thompson was grabbing at his left hamstring at times during the game. Then in the fourth quarter, he took a 3-pointer and landed awkwardly following Fred VanVleet’s closeout. He limped to the Golden State Warriors’ bench and then into the locker room.

Klay Thompson appears to be injured pic.twitter.com/Pke6GqL51M

— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) June 3, 2019

The Warriors announced later in the fourth quarter that Thompson had exited with left hamstring tightness and would not return.

Thompson had 25 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in 32 minutes prior to his injury. He was 10-for-17 shooting with four 3-pointers.

The Warriors were getting beat up in the game. Kevon Looney left with a collarbone injury, Andre Iguodala hurt his head in the second quarter before returning, and Steph Curry was said to be playing at less than full strength.

The Toronto Raptors entered the game with a 1-0 series lead.

Klay Thompson gets weak technical foul after tossed ball hits referee

The officiating crew for Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Toronto Raptors and Golden State Warriors on Thursday night gave Klay Thompson no wiggle room.

Thompson was called for a weak technical foul with about five minutes left in the game after a ball he bounced hit a referee. Thompson had just been called for an offensive foul for pushing off against Danny Green. He bounced the ball back at official John Gobel, who turned his back, which resulted in the ball hitting him.

Tech on Klay for throwing the ball at the ref?? pic.twitter.com/DDHApxiHFw

— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) May 31, 2019

The official behind Thompson who saw it happen is the one who called the tech.

Kawhi Leonard made the technical free throw to increase Toronto’s lead to 106-94. The Raptors then got a possession and killed another 30 seconds or so off the clock.

With the Warriors short on time to attempt a comeback, that weak call had a big impact. Toronto pulled out a 118-109 win to go up 1-0 in the series.

Klay Thompson clearly frustrated with not making All-NBA team

Klay Thompson found out from the media on Thursday that he was once again not elected to an All-NBA team, and the Golden State Warriors star could not hide his disappointment with being overlooked for a third consecutive year.

Thompson rolled his eyes when a reporter informed him that he finished behind Kemba Walker in the All-NBA Third Team voting.

Klay Thompson learns he didn’t make All-NBA (“Oh I didn’t?”) and is clearly a little ticked (it affects his next contract): “When you go to five straight Finals, it takes more than a couple All-NBA guys…Do I think there are that many guards better than me? No.” pic.twitter.com/bW5DiBavo1

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) May 23, 2019

“That’s cool and all, but when you go to five straight Finals — I respect those guys, but when you go to five straight it takes more than just a couple of All-NBA guys,” Thompson said. “That’s like an all-time team, but whatever. I’d rather win a championship than be Third Team All-NBA.”

Of course, making an All-NBA team gives a player much more than just bragging rights. Thompson, a five-time All-Star, would have been eligible for a five-year, $221 million supermax contract this offseason if he was All-NBA. Instead, he can earn a max of around $191 million over five years with Golden State. When asked if that part of it bothers him, Thompson said “rings” help him get past it.

“Do I think there are that many guards better than me in the league?” Thompson asked. “No, but that’s the reason why we’re still playing.”

Stephen Curry was named All-NBA First Team while Kevin Durant made the Second Team, and Thompson obviously has it tougher being teammates with those guys. He still managed to average 21.5 points per game this season, but that was not enough for the voters. These are the reasons why there have been rumblings that Thompson is unhappy with his role in Golden State, though his father seems to think his son should ignore all that and stick with what he has.

Biggest takeaways from All-NBA teams, including supermax contract effects

Making one of the All-NBA teams is not just a matter of prestige and recognition for basketball players. Now, the voting of these honors has practical effects on the money certain players can earn on their contracts.

In order to incentivize the best players to remain with their current teams, the league made changes that allow teams to offer more money via the “supermax” contracts to their veteran, often homegrown star players who either win an MVP, get named Defensive Player of the Year, or make one of the All-NBA teams in a recent season.

So who was most strongly affected by the All-NBA voting? Let’s take a look.

1) Klay Thompson loses about $30 million

Thompson has made five straight All-Star teams, but he did not make the All-NBA team. He also did not make an All-NBA team in either of the previous two seasons, which will prevent him from signing a supermax deal. Rather than being eligible to sign a 5-year, $221 million contract, he will be able to top out at around $191 million over five years in a deal from the Warriors. This is good news for the Warriors, as he will be somewhat cheaper to sign. They also can offer Thompson much more money and an extra year compared to other teams looking to sign him as a free agent.

(more…)

Warriors owner confident they will re-sign Durant, Thompson

The future of the Golden State Warriors very much hinges upon what happens this offseason.

Klay Thompson will be a free agent after the season, while Kevin Durant is widely expected to decline his player option and become a free agent. Does either player leave or do they stay with the Warriors to continue the dynasty?

Warriors majority owner Joe Lacob told The Athletic’s Tim Kawakami on Tuesday that they are confident both players will re-sign with the team.

Joe Lacob text today: "We love Klay and KD and intend to attempt to re-sign them. Period. I am confident about BOTH of them."

Column: https://t.co/VdEngf8LVn

— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) May 22, 2019

Thompson’s camp has been making noise about him considering other options if the Warriors don’t offer him a max contract. As long as Golden State is willing to pay him — and it sounds like they are — the likelihood of him returning seems very high. Durant is the much bigger question.

There has long been a line of thinking that Durant joined the Warriors to win championships for his legacy and that he would leave once he accomplished that goal. The Knicks have long been considered a potential destination for him, but recently other teams have been mentioned as possibilities.

Our guess is that despite the Warriors’ best efforts to retain him, Durant will probably leave. What team he chooses is the big question.