Golden State Warriors’ sharpshooter Klay Thompson, who made a triumphant return to the court after two injury-riddled years, recently shared how his attitude has evolved over his career. Thompson, a four-time NBA champion, highlighted the importance of embracing every moment in his basketball journey.
In a conversation with Paul George on his podcast, Thompson discussed his mindset transformation. “What’s so nice about working your hardest early in your career, you can relax a little bit more as far as the pressure,” he began.
Thompson reminisced about his early days in the league, driven by the desire to achieve greatness. He acknowledged that in the pursuit of accolades like All-Star and All-NBA selections, he sometimes overlooked the process. However, with time, he has learned to appreciate every aspect of his NBA life.
“You got just to be as present with everything as you possibly can because it’s such a privilege to play in this league,” Thompson said. “I was talking to my dad about that too because he played in a different era – they weren’t flying, they weren’t chartering, they had to do their own laundry they had no team meals. See how far we’ve come? We stay in these plush hotels, we get to gamble on the plane. It’s just different. I’m like, man, we’re so lucky to do this.”
“Now I just take everything and I’m just so grateful for it all,” Thompson said. He emphasized the privilege of playing in the modern NBA, contrasting it with the challenges his father faced in a different era of the game.
While criticism can still sting, Thompson has evolved in his approach, using negativity as motivation rather than dwelling on it. “Now I’m just enjoying this run. I realize I got 4-5 years left in me, I’mma enjoy every single day,” he affirmed.
