Klay Thompson’s Father Not in “Congratulatory Mood” After Failing to Persuade Son to Lakers Despite Kobe Bryant Entice

This was probably the first time in decades that disappointment tied the Lakers and Golden State Warriors in a single thread. The Warriors were left empty-handed with Klay Thompson‘s decision to choose the Mavs over the Lakers as a chapter closed in the NBA. Millions of Lakers fans slapped their forehead with a miss of a blockbuster proportion.

Among the legions of fans, Klay Thompson’s father, Mychal, was also a figure in despair with his son’s move to Dallas. When the name of the Lakers linked to his son, the 69-year-old saw a possibility, but not all hopes and dreams in life materialize into reality. After his son chose to ditch the LA side, the former Lakers C let everyone know how exactly he felt about his son’s grand 1731-mile journey across the country when he joined Frank Isola and Brian Scalabrine on SiriusXM NBA Radio.

Klay Thompson’s father opens up about son ditching the Lakers

After receiving the congratulatory words for Klay Thompson’s big-money move, Mychal opened up about his mood, which was far from the one for the best wishes. “I’m not too feeling too much in a congratulatory mood right now. Because, I mean, obviously it’s Klay’s decision. It’s his life. He’s a grown man, 34 years of age. Just like we were 34 at one time, Scal, Frank and our father used to give us advice, and we would go our own path. And that’s fine. That’s what life is supposed to be about,” Mychal said. “I’m really disappointed. I was hoping, hoping as you can assess that he would be a Laker. And it was close. It came down to the Lakers and the Mavs, but the Mavs won out. But you know me, I was hoping and praying he’d finish his career with the Lakers.”

Mychal was desperate to see his son in the gold and purple threads next season, so much so, he was even willing to put his body on the line. But the prospect of winning his 5th chip seemed more probable alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. The lure of the ring was hypnotizing enough to deter him from following his idol, Kobe Bryant‘s footsteps. “He grew up a Laker fan. He grew up idolizing Kobe Bryant. Like most players his age, most kids his age. So I just thought it seemed like it would be the perfect fit for him to finally come back home,” senior Thompson told the hosts of the show.

“Cause we always talked about him playing for the Lakers. He was not a Golden State warrior. Where else would he want to play? And of course, being a fan of Kobe’s, he would have loved to have played for the Lakers, but he had a chance and when the chance came, he chose the Mavericks instead and I’ll live with it.” Klay Thompson’s love and admiration for Kobe was no secret. From growing up as a fan to guarding him during a game on January 6, 2012, it was a full-circle moment for Thompson.

Klay Thompson revealed his two biggest moments with Kobe Bryant

Growing up in the ’90s meant either you’re a Kobe Bryant stan or you don’t watch basketball. For a young Thompson, the former was an undeniable truth of life. So when a chance of reminiscent about Kobe presented itself, Thompson did not pass. During an episode of Podcast P with Paul George, the 5-time All-Star shared two of his best moments featuring the late legend. “Definitely the first time I played against him. Like there’s not many dudes in the league who, when you’re a rookie, will make you starstruck. And that was one of them,” Thompson recalled.

“I was just like, ‘I can’t believe I’m lining up against you, bro, I’ve watched your whole career, like when you won the slam dunk contest, when you went for 80, seen you win five chips, and now I’m guarding you,'” Thompson added. It certainly was a special night for the rookie. Bryant went off with a 39-point performance in the 97-90 win for the Lakers, giving a “Welcome to the league moment,” to Klay.

The other one was the next year during NBA Global games. Thompson detailed, “I can’t sleep, that jet lag’s crazy. So I go up to the weight room and I’m on the dumbbell bench, whatever, and someone just taps me on the shoulder. I look up and I’m like, oh damn, it was Kobe, hood on, shades on. And I was like, I can’t believe I’m in the same gym in this, man, he just goes, sup. Shakes my hand, just goes the other side of the gym, starts doing his workout.” During Kobe’s retirement tour, the 5-time NBA Champion recalled the interaction with Thompson saying, “When I see stuff like that, then that’s what I know. You know, he’s really takes the game seriously.” 

There can be no bigger reward for your hard work than Kobe’s words of acknowledgement and Thompson can look back to that moment with pride once hangs his jersey in the closet. But for now, he has a ring to chase in Dallas, that one ring that’ll put him on the same podium as his idol.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what brand maker, Leonard Armato, had to say about the deadly duo, Shaq and Kobe, check out this video