Trouble in paradise began this summer, which lead to Klay Thompson joining the Dallas Mavericks. The Splash brothers were separated, Stephen Curry in California and Thompson in Texas. But they still appear together on a lot of lists. Thompson recently passed Reggie Miller on the NBA’s all-time 3-pointers made list, reaching 2,562 threes—now fifth in league history. He hit the milestone during a 105-99 loss to the Timberwolves, knocking down a three-pointer at the 8:49 mark of the fourth quarter.
Klay and Miller are next to each other on the list but they have it happened in flesh long before Thompson made the NBA. Miller visited Pepperdine to recruit Klay’s older brother, Mychel. Klay, then 17, had a memorable ping-pong match with the legend, where Miller “skunked” him 7-0.
To celebrate passing his idol, he held onto the game ball from that Christmas Day game. He also plans to send Miller a signed jersey. And he also honored the legend on Instagram calling him “the greatest to ever shoot it.” A title which is now an axiom for Steph Curry, his teammate, his splash brother with whom he won 4 rings.
Many of Klay’s former teammates congratulated him on the same post but not Curry. Andrew Wiggins, Zaza Pachulia, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Matt Barnes, the list goes on but nothing from the greatest shooter, I mean Steph Curry.
It’s surprising to see Klay of all people, call someone else “the greatest shooter ever.” I mean, you’d expect that title to go to Curry, right? While there’s no real sign of beef between him and Thompson, you’d still think Curry would be the one getting all the praise for that. But, Thompson’s decision to give the honor to someone else? It’s like when your best friend gives someone else the “best player” award at game night – a little unexpected, but hey, we all have our reasons.
But other players and teammates commented on Klay’s post.
Current Warriors and former Warriors teammates congratulated Klay Thompson
Zaza Pachulia, Klay’s ex-teammate at Golden State commented,“Half of them from my screens😉Congrats bro✊🏽”. Zaza was known for his hard screens and physical play, setting up opportunities for shooters like Klay to shine. It’s a playful nod to their time together on the Warriors, showing the bond they share. Another one of his teammates at the Warriors, Matt Barnes wrote, “This is with two seasons lost to injuries” adds an important layer of context to Klay Thompson’s incredible achievement.
After suffering back-to-back injuries that sidelined him for two full seasons, Thompson’s comeback to elite form has been nothing short of remarkable. Barnes reminds us the resilience and mental toughness Thompson has shown, bouncing back from adversity to reach this milestone.
Wiggins’ comment, “Elite *fire*” and Trayce Jackson-Davis’s “🔥🔥🔥” might seem like quick reactions, but they carry a lot of weight, especially coming from current Warriors players. Wiggins, who shared the court with Thompson, knows firsthand the dedication and s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 it takes to perform at such a high level. His use of “elite” isn’t just a throwaway compliment—it’s a testament to Klay’s ability to remain one of the game’s premier sharpshooters.
USA Today via Reuters
Festus Ezeli’s comment, “Splash!!! Keep climbing bro,” reflects the camaraderie and deep respect shared among former teammates. As someone who celebrated championships alongside Thompson during their time with the Warriors, Ezeli knows better than most what it takes to thrive under the bright lights. By “Splash!!!,” Ezeli pays homage to Klay’s identity as one-half of the iconic “Splash Brothers,” a duo that revolutionized modern basketball with their historic three-point shooting.
The comments from Dorell Wright and Alfonzo McKinnie—“Congrats bro. Keep it going” and “Congrats G 🙌🏾,” respectively—are simple yet meaningful tributes from former teammates who understand the grind it takes to achieve greatness.
