Klay Thompson on Kobe Bryant: 'He was my biggest inspiration. I’m just going to play my hardest to honor him and Gigi'

Clutch Points: Klay Thompson notched his 6th career playoff game with at least 8 made three-pointers, the most in NBA history 🔥 👌🏽 Klay Thompson – 6 👌🏽 Ray Allen – 4 👌🏽 Stephen Curry – 4 👌🏽 Damian Lillard – 4 pic.twitter.com/yISnt3qn62 -via Twitter @ClutchPointsApp / May 4, 2023

Dave McMenamin: The Warriors take Game 2, 127-100. They put all five starters in double-digits, led by Klay Thompson’s 30 points on 11-of-18 (8-of-11 from 3). Game 3 is Saturday in L.A., with the series tied 1-1. GSW outrebounded LAL 55-40 and made 21 3s, while the Lakers only made 10. -via Twitter @mcten / May 4, 2023

It’ll be NBA champs vs. NFL champs − on the golf course. The eighth installment of Capital One’s “The Match” will pit stars of the defending NBA champions against the reigning Super Bowl champions: Golden State Warriors guards Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson vs. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce, Warner Bros. Discovery announced Wednesday. -via USA Today Sports / May 3, 2023

Parker later apologized, and reached out to Bryant on multiple occasions, but never spoke with him before a tragic helicopter crash claimed Bryant’s life in Jan. 2020. “I brought it upon myself, and I take accountability for what I said,” Parker said. “I did get a chance to apologize for the things I said. I wish there was an opportunity to clear the air with some of the things Kobe put out there that tarnished my name, saying I was the worst player in the NBA. I tried for many years to rebrand myself because of it, and that’s what I’m doing now.” -via New York Post / May 3, 2023

It has been more than a decade since Parker labeled Bryant a bad teammate, describing the experience of playing with the legend as “overrated,” noting Bryant wouldn’t speak with him off the court until he had “more accolades” and how Parker eventually stopped passing to the future Hall of Famer. The Mamba’s venom left Parker with a permanent stain: Bryant said Parker “shouldn’t have been in the NBA, but [the Lakers] were too cheap to pay for a point guard.” Parker later apologized, and reached out to Bryant on multiple occasions, but never spoke with him before a tragic helicopter crash claimed Bryant’s life in Jan. 2020. “I brought it upon myself, and I take accountability for what I said,” Parker said. “I did get a chance to apologize for the things I said. I wish there was an opportunity to clear the air with some of the things Kobe put out there that tarnished my name, saying I was the worst player in the NBA. I tried for many years to rebrand myself because of it, and that’s what I’m doing now.” -via New York Post / May 2, 2023

What has it been like over the years to see Klay play against the Lakers? Mychal Thompson: It’s a thrill for me because the Lakers were his team as a kid. Kobe [Bryant] was his guy. For him to be able to play against the Lakers and play in LA and Crypto.com Arena, it has been most meaningful to him because of his affection for the Lakers’ franchise and for Kobe. Anytime school permitted, I would get him and my other two sons up here to Lakers games so they can appreciate the greatness of Kobe and Shaq. That was their era when they were growing up with Derek Fisher, Rick Fox and that whole crew. They saw what winners and what champions were like. -via The Sporting Tribune / May 1, 2023