Klay Thompson didn’t want a spectacle surrounding his return to San Francisco Tuesday night, but the Warriors felt the need to do something special to honor their longtime star, writes The Athletic’s Sam Amick. That included about 400 team employees lining up to cheer him on as the Outsiders‘ bus arrived at the arena and handed out captain hats to all fans in attendance in honor of Thompson’s love of sailing. There was also a video tribute, but one planned Stefan Curry The pre-match speech was thrown out by mutual agreement of the Splash Brothers.

“It was a very nice experience,” Thompson told reporters after the game. “I really appreciate the fans. The captain’s hat ended up being a nice extra, because I’m such a passionate water sports enthusiast. I saw many familiar faces in the audience. That was a warm feeling. So it was really cool to see fans who were grateful for me, and that’s something that I don’t take for granted. It’s very, very wonderful. It was a cool moment to feel the energy of the fans, and especially, you know, all the chatter I heard – it was all positive. (That) just means a lot to myself because I really enjoyed my time here and … left it all on the ground.

League sources told Amick that Thompson asked for a more subdued tribute, which is an acknowledgment that his 13 years with the Warriors did not end on the best of terms. The organization was reluctant to sign another big long-term contract for Thompson, who turns 35 later this season, forcing him to consider his options in free agency. Amick reports that some people around Thompson hoped the team employees wouldn’t greet him when he arrived, but he was grateful after it happened.

“That was really cool,” he said. “I am very grateful that the employees give me so much love. Totally unexpected and definitely put a smile on my face. It’s something I’ll never forget.”

There’s more on the Warriors:

• Thompson had been Curry’s teammate since he entered the league, so he was never the victim of Curry’s late-game scoring, ESPN’s Kendra Andrews notes. It happened Tuesday when Curry scored 12 of his game-high 37 points in the final four minutes to help Golden State to a win. ‘It hurts to be on the other side of one of his fits’ said Thompson. “Guy got hot at the end and made some ridiculous shots. I know I’ve been on the other side, and that sucks.”
• Amid all the emotion surrounding Thompson’s return, Ron Kroichick of The San Francisco Chronicle believes the Warriors made the responsible decision in letting him go. Kroichick claims the team needed to get younger, faster and better on defense after falling in the play-in tournament last season. Instead of increasing their offer to Thompson, they could pursue trades Paul George And Lauri Markkanen before finally adding De’Anthony Melton And Friend Lovedboth of which have been productive.
• Golden State has survived the loss of Thompson by leaning more on younger players like Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody And Trayce Jackson Davisaccording to Spencer Davies of Responsible Gambler. “Now the coaches just trust us a little more to go out there, be you and be free,” Kuminga said. “I think that’s it. Right now they’re leaning on us, they really believe in us and they let us go out and play.