On a night when Klay Thompson became no.17 on the NBA’s All-Time 3point field goals made list – he gave a nod to his Bahamian heritage and the Thompson family legacy.
Thompson sported an authentic Bahamas senior men’s national team jersey during his pregame warmups prior to Tuesday night’s game against the Miami Heat.
He went on the score 19 points and made four three-pointers to bring his career total to 1,931.
Despite the career milestone, he said the opportunity to wear the Bahamian jersey on the international stage was one of the highlights of the night.
Thompson has an endorsement deal with Anta that runs through the 2026 season.
The company came on board this year to provide merchandise and uniforms to the Bahamas senior men’s national team in the latest windows of the FIBA World Cup ‘23 Americas Qualifiers.
His older brother, Mychel, has been a member of the Bahamian national team for the past 8 years and Klay said seeks to more to build the relationship between the two brands more.
“It means the world to me, I look forward to doing more as my career winds down one day. Obviously [Mychel] playing for the national team is a great source of pride for our family and I just know [Anta] saw that and they know how much it means to represent our heritage,” he said, “I just look forward to repping the 242 for the rest of my life.”
Following the Warriors, NBA title win in June Thompson was draped in the Bahamian flag during the postgame celebration and again displayed the flag at the team’s celebratory parade in California.
“I just know how much it meant, not only to my family but to every Bahamian worldwide. My dad, I would watch film of him when they won back in ‘88 and he went back to Nassau, parading through downtown and it just gave me chills seeing that. It’s an honor to carry on his legacy, being a Thompson and knowing how much the country means to us, I was just glad to hoist that flag probably in the biggest moment of my career,” Klay said.
He hinted at a possible celebration highlighting his four titles with the Warriors and the two his dad Mychal won with the Lakers in ’87 and ’88.
“That would be sweet, let’s speak that into existence,” he said, “We should take all six down there and celebrate.”
In his first healthy offseason in years, Thompson spent time back home in The Bahamas with friends and family, crediting the water for assisting his healing process.
“The ocean has just been a sanctuary for me where I would forget about everything, but there’s no better waters than the Bahamian waters, I promise you that. That clear blue is magical, it’s heavenly.”
The basketball aspect of the Thompson family legacy is often celebrated in The Bahamas, but Klay said this season presented a new opportunity to explore the throughline between generations that have suited up for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Klay was often seen at Dodgers game cheering on his younger brother Trayce who moved into a starting role in his second stint with the club last season.
“My late uncle Colin was drafted by the Dodgers in the 70s, I think he got a little homesick and went back to Nassau, but for Trayce to live out that dream, wear Thompson on his back with the Dodgers, it’s special,” he said, “It’s not much more fun I have than going to watch him play. Although they came up short against the Padres, seeing him play out there in centerfield was so surreal.”
Thompson has missed 941 days of action on the court in the last two seasons as he recovered from a torn ACL and a ruptured Achilles tendon.
“That rehab stuff was hard, it was the hardest thing I ever had to go through, but I’m still not satisfied, I still want to reach another level,” he added, “Two and a half years off, coming back and being able to win again, it makes me hungry for more so I really want to do it again.”
