Steph Curry is still adjusting to the absence of his Splash Brother Klay Thompson at Golden State.
When Klay informed Steph of his departure, Curry hoped he could persuade the fellow four-time champion to stay.
“Put it this way,” Curry told ESPN. “He can ask. But I don’t have to listen.”
As the Warriors started their training camp in late October, Curry realized that Klay wouldn’t be joining him on the court in 2024-25.
“[Klay] would usually arrive at the practice facility after coming off his boat,” Curry said. “With his Dockers on, whatever outfit he had on. He just had a presence about him, a lightness when he entered the room. And his one-liners were always great. … [I’m] talking about him like he died, [which is] super weird. … Life throws a lot of curve balls in sports. You’re used to seeing people change places and teams. [However] up until but a week before he decided to sign Dallas, we never really thought it was going to end.”
Klay has been replaced by Buddy Hield and Kerr believes that the team and Buddy will be able to adjust smoothly.
“One of the reasons we are excited to have Buddy Hield is because we will run some of the same plays that we did for Klay for Buddy,” Kerr told ESPN. “Draymond and Steph will be looking for him on the perimeter when they’re playing with him. And then the other new guys, Melton, Kyle Anderson — there’s a reason we targeted them too. They fit in any lineup, such smart tough players that they’re easy to play with.
“So I don’t anticipate a really difficult transition basketball-wise. It’s more just the emotional void of Klay being gone after being so close with him and going through so much with him. That part is really sad. But you have to move on.”
Kerr may be right, as Hield had an impressive performance in his second pre-season game against the Kings.
The guard scored 22 points and three rebounds on 89 percent shooting from the field in 19 minutes.
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