SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS RADIO) – Klay Thompson needed just five words to describe how the Golden State Warriors, their fans and himself felt after the team's NBA championship-clinching victory on Thursday night.
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"Holy cannoli, this is crazy," Thompson said during an interview with ESPN's Lisa Salters on ABC's broadcast of the Warriors' 103-90 road win over the Boston Celtics in Game 6 of the 2022 NBA Finals on Thursday night.
Thompson, now a four-time NBA champion, has demonstrated his way with words well before he returned to the court earlier this season after a three-year absence. Few other NBA All-Stars, let alone five-timers, can be a compelling interview subject in a TV news package about New York City scaffolding.
But the 32-year-old has been even more introspective during the Warriors' championship run, his first since sustaining a torn ACL in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals and a torn Achilles tendon hours before the 2020 NBA Draft.
The "Splash Brother" waxed poetic about the ocean’s healing properties – and his astrological sign – just three days ago, on the third anniversary after sustaining a torn ACL in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals, no less.
Thompson then told Salters on Thursday he was on "cloud 109" – 100 higher than he was after the Warriors clinched their spot in the NBA Finals last month – after reflecting upon all that he had been through. He credited Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala – his Warriors teammates since 2011, '12 and '13 respectively – with keeping him centered.
"There was some dog days," Thompson said. "There was a lot of tears shed on the bench. Steph talked me right, even Draymond and just leaning on those guys, Andre. I'm just thankful to be here, man. This is crazy. I can't even believe it."
Thompson wasn’t his vintage "Game 6 Klay" on Thursday night, scoring 12 points on 5-of-20 shooting to go along with three turnovers.
But with only a handful of words, he remained the voice of Warriors fans everywhere.
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