Klay Thompson has seen it all on the defensive end. From battling Kobe Bryant in his early years, to chasing Stephen Curry around screens in practice, to trying to contain LeBron James and Kevin Durant in the biggest games of his career, the Golden State Warriors sharpshooter built his reputation as one of the premier perimeter defenders of his era.
Yet when asked to identify the single toughest assignment of his career, Thompson didn’t hesitate: Kyrie Irving.
Speaking on Showtime with Coop, Thompson praised his current Mavericks teammate with a level of admiration that reflects years of on-court battles.
"It's awesome being his teammate now, because we can talk about those things and try and add to our last chapter and lead together and add to our legacy. Because we did come into the league together, you know, same draft class, class of 2011."
"And I just have great respect for Kyrie. He's the toughest guy I've ever guarded. You know, put him up there with LeBron and KD and Kobe. He's got no weaknesses in his game."
That is high praise considering the company Thompson listed. Kobe Bryant’s footwork and killer mentality, Durant’s size and shooting touch, and LeBron’s strength and all-around dominance have frustrated defenders for years.
But for Klay, the blend of skill, creativity, and unpredictability Kyrie brings to the floor made him stand out as uniquely difficult to contain.
The history between the two is filled with unforgettable moments. As rivals, Thompson and Irving squared off in three straight NBA Finals from 2015 to 2017, a stretch that defined a generation of basketball.
The Warriors and Cavaliers split the first two meetings before Golden State’s 2017 superteam overwhelmed Cleveland in five games. Through it all, Kyrie often found himself matched up with Klay, who was Golden State’s best defensive option against the Cavaliers’ electric point guard.
Irving’s numbers speak to the challenge. In 18 career games against Thompson, he averaged 23.8 points, 5.7 assists, and 4.9 rebounds, often saving his best work for the brightest stage.
One of the defining moments of their rivalry came on Christmas Day in 2016, when Irving hit a fadeaway game-winner over Thompson to lift the Cavaliers past the Warriors in a Finals rematch. It was the type of play that cemented Kyrie’s reputation as one of the game’s deadliest clutch performers and the type of memory that lingers with defenders like Klay.
Now, years removed from those battles, the two are teammates in Dallas, working together instead of against each other. Both are chasing a late-career chapter that can add to their legacies, with the Mavericks building around their veteran stars, Anthony Davis, and rookie phenom Cooper Flagg.
For Thompson, sharing a locker room with Irving is an opportunity to appreciate, rather than endure, the arsenal that once tormented him.
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