NBA FINALS: CELTICS VS. WARRIORS

June 9, 2022

Klay Thompson

Golden State Warriors

Practice Day

Q. Considering where you were last year and where you are right now, what did it take to keep going? What was the hardest part? How does it feel now to be back on this stage?

KLAY THOMPSON: Wow. That's a great question. Yeah, incredibly grateful. The hardest part was having to watch during this time last year when it would just be me in the arena, Rick Celebrini, some slow days. Definitely on top of that, the hardest part was not being able to do a calf raise for four or five months. That was very tedious and took an incredible amount of work.

What it means to be here, it's just awesome. I wish we were up 2-1 or 3-0, but that's not the case. Still a great opportunity ahead, and I'm just going to try to seize the moment knowing what the last two years entailed for me. Just nothing is guaranteed in this league, so I'm just trying to soak it all in.

Q. You mentioned the 2015 vibes last night after the game. In 2015, you guys had a move to make. You put Andre in and took Bogut out. Do you feel right now that you guys have a move in your back pocket to make, or is it more just on playing better with who has been playing?

KLAY THOMPSON: I think it's answer B. I think it's just playing better, playing harder, playing as a unit. I don't think we need to make incredible adjustments. I just think we need to come out with that force, that Warriors brand of ball that has been so successful this past decade.

Q. What's your routine like on these rest and recovery days?

KLAY THOMPSON: Well, got to properly hydrate, eat healthy, NormaTec, some deep tissue massages and then hopefully get outside and get some fresh air. Read a book, watch a movie. Trying to get your mind off things.

Q. Steve said that he expects Steph to play tomorrow, but still knowing that he was injured and in some pain in Game 3, he is probably not going to be 100%. Do you guys feel like you need to take responsibility and maybe step up your game to help more or take some pressure off him?

KLAY THOMPSON: Definitely. I think we just need to help Steph in general. He has been incredible this series. We'll all do our best. I think we'll respond. I think we'll come correct tomorrow, and I'm just excited for the opportunity. We still have a chance to even out the series and take home-court advantage.

Q. Piggybacking off of that, I don't want to say easy because it's not easy to win a Finals, obviously, but given the fact that you guys have really seen any situation over the past decade, you and a couple of the other pillars in this franchise, does it make it easier for you to kind of compartmentalize all of this and stay even-keeled?

KLAY THOMPSON: Definitely. I'm not as anxious as I was in my younger days, which is good. I remember a lot of instances where we were doubting whether we could do it, or we were up and we were feeling too good and maybe too cocky and let the things slip away. You can't really relax until the final buzzer of the close-out game. That's the hardest part about the playoffs is you have to deal with being uncomfortable until the mission is complete. That's just what comes with playing at the highest level is that aspect of being uncomfortable and not being satisfied until the main objective is complete.

Q. In your mind, is it the offense that needs to be picked up, or is it defense? Which is the higher priority in your mind?

KLAY THOMPSON: I think yesterday, from watching the film, I think defensively we need to be better and play with a little more force on that end. They looked very comfortable in their shooting and their ball movement and getting to the rim. They beat us up and outplayed us. Tip the hat for their performance in Game 3, and it's our turn tomorrow to swing the momentum back in our favor.

Q. Did you ever have a conversation with Draymond Green following his performance last night and how to bounce back from that given that you also did a bounce back in Game 3 after your Game 2 performance?

KLAY THOMPSON: Well, Draymond is here for a reason. We would not be the Warriors without Draymond. He is one of the best players I've ever played with. He is one of the smartest players I've ever played with. All of us are human. We're not immune to a bad night or two.

But I know one thing for sure is that we respond like champions. I know Draymond will come out and play his typical brand of ball that's very physical, fast-paced, talking trash and just being the Money Green that Dub Nation loves so much and has brought us to heights that the franchise has never seen before.

I'm excited. He is excited. Our whole team is excited because we're here, and it's an incredible opportunity.