Klay Thompson Speaks On The Pain Of The 2016 NBA Finals

BYAlexander ColePublished on August 08, 20231190 Views

Capital One's The Match VIII - Curry & Thompson v. Mahomes & Kelce

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 29: Klay Thompson lines up a putt during Capital One's The Match VIII - Curry & Thompson vs. Mahomes & Kelce at Wynn Golf Club on June 29, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images for The Match)

Klay Thompson still feels the hurt in his heart.

Klay Thompson has been an essential part of the Golden State Warriors dynasty. Although he missed two years with injuries, his presence was felt as soon as he returned. The team won the NBA title in 2022, which gave Thompson and company his fourth title. Overall, it was a massive accomplishment that cemented this team as one of the great dynasties of our time. That said, there is still one blip on the Warriors' resume. Of course, we are talking about the 2016 NBA Finals, where the team gave up a 3-1 series lead and lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Recently, Thompson was a guest on Podcast P with Paul George. During this interview, George asked Klay about what happened in 2016. As you can imagine, Thompson and his teammates are still fairly heartbroken about what happened. However, he noted that it was simply an anomaly and it led to better things for the team. In his eyes, without the incident in 2016, the Warriors would never have gotten Kevin Durant.

Klay Thompson Speaks

“Honestly I thought we were good even going back to Oakland [for Game 7]. I remember being like, we don't lose at home. The last time we did it took Kyrie and LeBron going for 40 a piece, the first time in Finals history. So I'm like alright anomalies happen…,” Thompson said. [...] “Why are you making me do this Paul? This hurts man f**k. But I don't know if we don’t win we might not get Kevin [Durant] so like it all worked out but that one hurt. I’m not going to admit when it was slipping away, there's too much pride to do that. It still hurts. You’re welcome city of Cleveland.”

That is certainly one way to look at it. However, despite all of their success in the NBA Finals, fans will never forget how they messed up big time seven years ago. Let us know what you think of Thompson's take on the fiasco, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news from around the sports world.

About The Author

Alexander Cole

Alexander Cole is the current Managing Editor of HotNewHipHop. He started at HotNewHipHop back in 2018 where he began as a Sports and Sneakers writer. During this time, he has shown an expertise in Air Jordans, Yeezys, and all things that have to do with Nike. His favorite kicks are the Air Jordan 1 High OG, the Air Jordan 4, the Air Jordan 6, and the Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 in the "Beluga 2.0" colorway. Although his collection might not be the biggest, he is always looking to add new styles to it. When it comes to sports, Alex has a particular interest in the NBA and the NFL. His favorite teams are anywhere LeBron goes, and the Kansas City Chiefs. As a Montrealer, the Montreal Canadiens hold a special place in his heart, even if they haven't won the Stanley Cup in his lifetime. Alex also works for the Concordia Stingers, where he provides play-by-play and color commentary for the football, hockey, and basketball teams His favorite hip-hop artists are Kendrick Lamar, Playboi Carti, Travis Scott, and Lil Uzi Vert.