Ahoy, captain! Welcome back.
Klay Thompson makes his return to Golden State on Tuesday night as the Dallas Mavericks head to the Bay Area to take on the red-hot Warriors.
Salute to Captain Klay ????
— Chase Center (@ChaseCenter) November 8, 2024
Get this one-of-a-kind Captain Hat on Nov. 12, thanks to @kpthrive! Arrive early for a special pregame celebration as we salute Captain Klay pic.twitter.com/K0GVGTe1pv
In honor of his first game against Golden State, where Thompson was a four-time NBA champion and one of the best players in franchise history, the Warriors will hand out a captain’s hat to all 18,064 fans in attendance, Chase Center’s capacity.
The hats, sponsored by Kaiser Permanente, are a nod to Thompson’s passion for boating, which he often did with his bulldog, Rocco, and would commonly be seen commuting to the arena by boat.
“With Klay, it’s not the records or championships or clutch shots that stand out the most from the last 13 years — it’s the truly unique relationship he developed with the Bay Area and our fans,” Warriors president and COO Brandon Schneider said in a statement.
“He embraced Dub Nation, and Dub Nation embraced him back. Warriors fans have laughed, cried, cheered and celebrated alongside him, and it’s only fitting that they get a chance to show their love and salute him in his return to the Bay.”
When asked by reporters if he’d be emotional during the game, Thompson said, "No, I don't think so. I've been doing this a long time. Basketball is basketball.”
Thompson will be introduced as the Mavericks’ fifth starter Tuesday, but Golden State will play a tribute video prior to the introduction and Steph Curry will speak to the crowd at center court.
“We’ve had homecomings before,” Curry told reporters Sunday night following a win over Oklahoma City, “but nothing like this.”
One captain's hat is already listed on eBay, currently priced at $139.88.
Matt Liberman is a reporter and video producer for cllct.