By: Matt Anderson

Klay Thompson gave so much to the Golden State Warriors, and for that, Dub Nation must be forever grateful. Whether it is legendary performances on the court, or his paradoxically quietly larger than life personality off of it, the man was one of the heartbeats of a great NBA dynasty. Klay is my favorite basketball player. Of the 8 jerseys I own, 5 of them tout the 11th pick of the 2011 draft's name and signature number 11. While this parting may be a somber one, we should all celebrate all the ways Klay, and his various iterations enriched Warriors Basketball.

First, there was 37 points in a quarter Klay. This was the birth of the legend. On January 23, 2015, mere months before the Warriors announced themselves as THE TEAM with their first title, Klay lit up the Sacramento Kings in a third quarter will go down in history. In the 12-minute frame, Klay took 13 shots and made all 13. 9 of them were three pointers. Sacramento, as a team scored 22, in that period. Klay finished with a total of 52 that night, despite only paying for 2 and a half minutes in the fourth.

There was also Toaster Klay. In March 2017, Klay was at an autograph signing session when a fan presented him with a toaster to sign. Klay's puzzled reaction was captured on camera, and the photo instantly went viral.

Another memorable Klay was the birth of Headband Klay, aka NBA Record 14 Threes Klay. On October 30, 2018, Klay was in a funk. In the first seven games of the season, Klay had only 5 total three pointers made. He was shooting a ghastly 13.9% from beyond the arc and averaging a measly 15.1 points per game. That night in Chicago, however, he busted out of the slump in a big way. Klay scored 52 points in 27 minutes, making a still standing NBA record of 14 threes (on only 24 attempts). During this sizzling performance, Klay ended up with a laceration on his forehead, which necessitated that he wear a headband to cover the bandage. This was something very different for a player who, up until that point in his career was a no frills, no accessories, just show up and play player. Headband Klay would sit dormant until his return from his devastating leg injuries, but reappeared in 2022, just in time for the cherry on top title.

One of Klay's more memorable off court personas was China Klay. Coming off of the redemption that was the 2017 title, Klay took a trip to China after inking a ten year deal with Chinese shoe manufacturer, Anta. Quickly, the viral videos started, showing us a Klay that he had never really shown the world before. He was completely carefree and having a blast. From embarrassing failed dunk attempts to wild dance moves, Klay was having the time of his life, and we all loved seeing it.

There are also a handful of smaller glimpses into who the man Klay is on and off the court that are worth noting. There was 60 points on 11 dribbles. There was the interview he gave with a local New York City reporter about his thoughts on scaffolding. There was casual post-game beer Klay. There's his love of Rocco, his English Bulldog. And of course, his love of his boat, which he reportedly drove to practice often.

The Klay that Warriors fans love the most, however, is Game 6 Klay. This Klay came to life on May 29, 2016. The Warriors, who had just won an NBA record 73 regular season games, were down 3-2 (after being down 3-1) to Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals. Playing in OKC, it was do or die. The Warriors entered the 4th quarter down 8. Klay went on to outscore the entire Thunder team 19-18 in the frame as part of a 41 point performance and playoff record 11 threes in the game. Game 6 Klay would show up again in 2018 in the Western Conference Finals against the Rockets, scoring 35 points and hitting 64.3% of his threes in a win to tie the series at 3 apiece.

Then there was his most memorable Game 6: the 2019 Finals. It was a do-or-die Game 6. Through three quarters, Klay had 30 points on 8-12 shooting and was 4-6 beyond the arc. Then on a fast break dunk, Danny Green clipped him from behind. Klay landed awkwardly, tearing his ACL. Despite that, he came back onto the court to shoot the free throws and then tried to stay in the game. Unfortunately, the Warriors could not hold on without him in the 4th Quarter, losing the title and ending their run at Oracle Arena on a down note. But this night showed exactly who Klay was: willing to give everything to the franchise when the stakes were the highest, no matter what he could or could not do physically. And that is the Klay that we should all remember.

Admittedly, the last two years have not been the best for Klay with the Warriors. There have been more frustrating times than jaw-dropping moments. While I think we were all hoping the Splash Brothers would stay together through it all, I hope that Klay can find the peace and happiness that seemed to elude him since hoisting the Larry O'Brien in 2022. Because there is one Klay that is truly the best Klay: Joyful Klay. That is the Klay that brings out all the other Klays mentioned above. So, for all of Dub Nation, thank you, Klay Thompson, and here is hoping you find the best Klay.