Thompson Returns to Sideline Reporter Gig
The Golden State Warriors played great two-way basketball in a 118-91 win over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday night, but all the focus was on a player who wasn’t even active.
For the second time in the last two seasons, an injured Klay Thompson made a guest appearance as a member of the NBC Sports Bay Area broadcast crew. This time, the shooting guard put on the headset for the third quarter. His performance was quintessential Klay: honest, funny and a little unpredictable, but insightful and representative of his passion for the game.
“We're back, guys,” he said at the opening of his time on the mic. “I didn't want to do it but then I saw this backdrop [reading “Reporter Klay”].”
He opened up by joking about his communications, or lack thereof, with Bob Fitzgerald and Kelenna Azubuike. Thompson then talked about the game of basketball, engaging in conversation with Fitzgerald and Azubuike about both funny and serious topics. In one particularly noteworthy moment, Thompson mentioned that he is locker partners with James Wiseman, which allowed for some insight into Wiseman’s play, development and frame of mind.
Thompson also gave an update on his rehabilitation from a torn Achilles tendon. He is currently wearing a boot and his ability to do any kind of basketball activity is obviously very limited. At the same time, he expressed optimism about his eventual return, when he’ll get a chance to play alongside at least some of the current roster.
“When we have a full squad, it's gonna be scary,” he said.
Thompson also attempted some play-by-play in the final two minutes of the third quarter. As he often does, he provided fantastic entertainment just by acting naturally. He cheered on nice plays by Stephen Curry and Kevon Looney, among others. He described one of Curry’s three-pointers as “barbecue chicken.” When asked which version of Klay is his favorite, he responded “Just Klay. Just being myself. I don’t like alter egos.”
He also reunited with his Splash Brother, albeit in a socially distanced manner. Thompson conducted the postgame interview with Curry, asking him three questions after the win. None of them were really about Curry’s 28-point performance, but nobody cared. The worst thing would have been to force Thompson to stick to a network-approved script.
Nowhere was this more true than in what has been easily the most talked-about portion of the evening, taking place after the game. Pistons reserve guard Rodney McGruder approached the Warriors’ bench, where he exchanged words with several Golden State players, most notably Juan Toscano-Anderson. The situation got resolved pretty quickly, but Thompson took it as an opportunity to rip into McGruder completely unprompted.
“This dude might be out the league soon,” Thompson said. “He’s probably mad about that.”
His mini-rant sent Fitzgerald and Azubuike into a state of shock, and they temporarily lost control of the broadcast. Did Thompson perhaps go a bit overboard with his criticism of McGruder? It’s possible. But is it another unforgettable Klay moment that adds to his legend? Absolutely.
Klay Thompson’s sideline reporting work was unfiltered and chaotic. But it was also fun and enthralling, and it demonstrated his love of basketball the entire time. It’s yet another reminder for Warriors fans of how long he’s been away from the court — but it provides hope for a time when he might be able to get back on the floor and contribute to a team once again.