Home Basketball Draymond Green’s been “checking in” on Thompson to make sure he’s practicing his golf game before competing with Curry in TNT’s ‘The Match’

Draymond Green’s been “checking in” on Thompson to make sure he’s practicing his golf game before competing with Curry in TNT’s ‘The Match’

Basketball — 04/02/2024

Draymond Green offered a singular piece of advice to his Golden State Warriors teammate, Klay Thompson, ahead of TNT’s The Match: avoid disappointing Stephen Curry. “I’ve been keeping tabs on Klay and ensuring he’s putting in the work on his golf game,” Green, 33, shares with PEOPLE. “It’s crucial that he’s prepared on the course and ready to perform.

We can’t afford for him to let Steph down because I know Steph is taking this seriously, and I’d hate to see Klay be a setback for the team.” As the Warriors’ defensive specialist, Green will be providing commentary for the televised event. He expresses certainty that Curry, 35, has been dedicating significant time to golf, with at least five outings a week leading up to the tournament. However, Green questions whether Thompson has been putting in the same level of effort, remarking, “The real question is – has Klay been hitting the links every day? And honestly, I don’t think so.”

Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (R) and Warriors forward Draymond Green (L) pose for a photo during the Golden State Warriors 2019-20 season Media Day

Curry and Thompson are set to face off against NFL buddies Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce in the TNT competition at Wynn Resort in Las Vegas. Green expresses anticipation for “watching those champions go head-to-head on the golf course” on Thursday, noting that he’ll make an effort not to show favoritism toward his Warriors teammates.

“Given that Steph and Klay are like family to me, and considering the battles we’ve fought together, this promises to be an enjoyable event where we can share some laughs,” Green adds.

“If it’s going south with them, I’m going to try not to be a homer. But I think I’ll take the total opposite approach and if it’s going south, I’m going in, I’m talking junk about it. Now if they’re winning, maybe I’ll jump on the bandwagon.”

Andre Iguodala #9, Draymond Green #23, Klay Thompson #11 and Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors

He explains, “Patty Mahomes doesn’t talk a lot. Steph doesn’t talk a lot. Klay doesn’t talk a lot, but that’s what Travis Kelce does. And so I think on that side of things, it is going to be hard for either one of those guys, including his teammate, to keep up with Travis in that department.”

The NBA star, whose future in Golden State remains uncertain as free agency begins, says he enjoys being around champions in other sports.