Outside of LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the entire Los Angeles Lakers team, there is nobody more excited for a trip to Southern California than Klay Thompson.
The Warriors guard exploded for 30 points in Golden State's 127-100 win over Los Angeles in Game 3 on Thursday night at Chase Center, helping the Warriors tie the series at one game apiece before heading to Los Angeles for Games 3 and 4 at Crypto.com Arena on Saturday and Monday, respectively.
Thompson, whose father, Mychal, played for and currently is the radio color commentator for the Lakers, grew up attending games in Los Angeles and has a longstanding love for the city and the Lakers organization.
In speaking to reporters after the game, Thompson was asked what it will be like to return to Los Angeles to play in playoff games at the arena he grew up at.
"I'm going to be myself, I'm going to play hard on both ends, I'm going to hunt great shots," Thompson said. "From a life standpoint, it's such an incredible experience to play in front of my friends and family. I would go to Staples [Center] as a high school basketball player with my pops, just dreaming of playing on that floor, playing against the best in the world. To be here and be a part of it, I don't lose sight of that perspective of how great this opportunity is and I'm just excited to do it in a building where all my hoop dreams came out."
Thompson will cherish the next two games in Los Angeles and vowed to play his absolute hardest in honor of the late Kobe Bryant, his childhood idol and his daughter Gigi.
Golden State Warriors
"I have so much respect for just the opportunity ahead for me," Thompson added. "I'm a huge Kobe fan, he's my biggest inspiration and I'm just going to play my hardest to honestly honor him and Gigi because without his play and all those years of me viewing his tenacity on the court, I would not be the athlete I am today."
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Having played in games at Crypto.com Arena since Bryant's tragic passing over three years ago and since his return from back-to-back lower leg injuries, these next two games will be different. Thompson and the Warriors will face off against the Lakers under the bright lights of the playoffs. Something the 33-year-old has dreamed of doing one day.
Now his dream is about to become reality.