Normally, the off-day practice quotes are a litany of cliches. But on Sunday, Klay Thompson flipped that script when he was of course asked about Draymond Green’s suspension for Game 5 on Monday. Except, when a reporter asked him to delve deeper into the play in question and the ensuing word Draymond reportedly then called LeBron that set the Cavs superstar on edge, Klay just couldn’t help himself.
Klay Thompson reacts to Draymond Green’s Game 5 suspension and throws shade at LeBron #NBAFinals https://t.co/Ri6LmPHojs
— History Of Sports (@BeforeFamePics) June 12, 2016
First, here’s what Klay says about the play:
“They got tangled up. I didn’t even see the whole play, I saw em barking at each other, but nothing that’s — I mean guys talk trash in this league all the time. You know I’m just kind of shocked some guys just take it so personal. You know it’s a man league and I’ve heard a lot of bad things on that court. But at the end of the day it stays on the court. We’re all competitive people, you know. Trash talk is a part of the game of basketball. It’s a part of any sport and especially if it’s this competitive.”
Then he was asked if he thought LeBron overreacted, and that’s when Klay talked about LeBron’s hurt feelings (emphasis is ours)
“I don’t know. I don’t know how the man feels. But obviously people have feelings and people’s feelings get hurt even when they’re called a bad word. I guess his feelings just got hurt. We’ve all been called plenty of bad words on the basketball court before. Some guys just react to it differently. All I can say for myself individually is I try to ignore it, or just let if fuel the fire. But I don’t carry it with me when the job is done.”
That’s a not-so-subtle dig at LeBron’s angry response to allegedly being called a “b***h” by Draymond, which is what LeBron even admitted — without mentioning the specific word — is what set him on fire after their brief entanglement ended.
Obviously, LeBron was asked about Klay’s comments when he addressed the media and he laughed a lot before taking the high road by telling everyone he was taking the high road.
LeBron James reacts to Klay Thompson saying his feelings were hurt by Draymond Green’s trash-talk…#NBAFinals https://t.co/3zuvyKwYwU
— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 12, 2016
Here’s the full back-and-forth with LeBron out what Klay said if you’re too lazy to hit the little play button (or if you wanna reblog this).
Q. When the Warriors were up here, there was some talk about what trash talk crosses the line and what doesn’t. Klay Thompson said: I guess he just got his feelings hurt. You talked about being a prideful guy and some comments Draymond made. Would you discuss that whole issue of what’s fair and not fair on the court? LEBRON JAMES: What happened? What Klay said?
Q. Yeah, and what crosses the line.
LEBRON JAMES: No, I’m not — what did you say Klay said?
Q. Klay said: I guess he just got his feelings hurt.
LEBRON JAMES: (Laughing) Oh, my goodness.
Q. I believe the transcript will support that.
LEBRON JAMES: I’m not going to comment on what Klay said, because I know where it can go from this sit- in. It’s so hard to take the high road. I’ve been doing it for 13 years. It’s so hard to continue to do it, and I’m going to do it again.
At the end of the day, we’ve got to go out and show up and play better tomorrow night; and if we don’t, then they’re going to be back-to-back champion, and that’s it.But I’ve taken the high road again.
The NBA Finals are somehow even more fun when things get petty. This is pretty petty, on both sides.
Game 5 is Monday night at 9 p.m. ET on ABC. We can’t wait.
