Klay Thompson delivered sharp criticism of multiple Memphis Grizzlies players after the Dallas Mavericks’ 102-96 home defeat on Saturday, addressing several in-game confrontations and a post-buzzer exchange with Ja Morant.
Thompson finished with 22 points and six made threes, but his postgame comments drew equal attention after a night filled with physical disputes and verbal back-and-forth.
He first reacted to Santi Aldama’s intentional trip on rookie Cooper Flagg, an incident that sparked immediate frustration. “With the tall guy, I thought just like that’s not cool… I don’t like seeing that done to a rookie. That’s not cool,” Thompson said, referencing past run-ins with Memphis from his Golden State tenure.
Thompson then addressed his exchange with Vince Williams Jr., which stemmed from a loose-ball tangle. “Williams, you know, I just kept that same energy. Kept chirping. Thought he flopped when I got tied up with him,” he said.
The most pointed comments came when discussing Morant, who did not play due to injury. “He’s a funny guy. He has a lot to say all the time, especially for a guy who rarely takes accountability,” Thompson said, later adding, “Nothing of intelligent depth… it’s funny to run your mouth when you’re on the bench. It’s kind of the story of his career so far.”
Thompson continued, expressing disappointment with Morant’s availability issues. “We need our best players to be out there… when you’re a star, it comes with a great responsibility and I hate to see that go to waste,” he said.
When asked about long-standing tension between him and the franchise, Thompson contrasted Memphis’ past core with its current group. “I actually do have a lot of respect for the grind house, Mike Conley and Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol… This new team though, I don’t know, man. They just talk a lot… they never really backed it up either,” he said.
The Mavericks were unable to overcome Memphis’ late surge, with Aldama scoring 20 points and triggering a decisive 6-0 run in the final minute. Cam Spencer added 17 off the bench, while Zach Edey posted a 12-point, 15-rebound double-double.
Dallas, playing without P.J. Washington down the stretch due to a back injury, leaned on Thompson’s scoring and Flagg’s 12 points and seven rebounds, but Memphis’ 61-41 rebounding edge proved decisive.
Thompson said the Mavericks embraced the competitive edge of the matchup. “It’s fun to get active sometimes and feel that adrenaline rush… as long as you don’t cross the line, say something personal, you talk trash about someone’s game. It’s kind of nature,” he said.
Dallas now begins a four-game road trip in Miami on Monday, while Memphis returns home to face Denver.
