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As the top pick of the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1978 draft, five slots ahead of Larry Bird, Thompson never became the dominant star many expected. But he carved out a respectable career, averaging 13.7 points and 7.4 rebounds. His wife, whom he met in a gym at the University of Portland, suggests basketball wasn't his consuming passion. But playing under coaches such as Jack Ramsay and Pat Riley, and with Magic Johnson as his point guard in Los Angeles, he developed a healthy professionalism. He said he isn't hard on his boys -- "I should've been harder on Mychel; he needs that kick in the butt more" -- but he is serious about them having respect for the game and the opportunity in front of them. It's perhaps the lesson he stresses the most to his boys. "I tell Klay all the time, 'Look at your peers. They're all looking for jobs,' " the father said. "Don't lose perspective and don't take things for granted." San Jose Mercury-News

Golden State Warriors, Klay Thompson 

Klay Thompson and Harrison Barnes will participate in Team USA’s minicamp in Las Vegas in July, according to sources. And point guard Stephen Curry is back in the national team mix, too. Contra Costa Times

Golden State Warriors, USA Basketball, Las Vegas, Stephen Curry, Harrison Barnes, Klay Thompson 

Klay Thompson and Harrison Barnes will participate in Team USA’s minicamp in Las Vegas in July, according to sources. And point guard Stephen Curry is back in the national team mix, too. Contra Costa Times

Golden State Warriors, USA Basketball, Las Vegas, Stephen Curry, Harrison Barnes, Klay Thompson 

Marc Stein: Milwaukee's Larry Sanders already tweeted he's a camp invitee & two more names, I'm told, are Golden State's Harrison Barnes & Klay Thompson Twitter @ESPNSteinLine

Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, Larry Sanders, USA Basketball, Team USA, Harrison Barnes, Klay Thompson 

Curry has been the heart and soul of the Warriors (already without All-Star forward David Lee) and without him, their chances at upsetting No. 2 San Antonio appear suspect. "He'll play," guard Klay Thompson said with certainty. "No question about it. He will play through anything. He's got heart." San Jose Mercury-News

Golden State Warriors, Injuries, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson 

Parker triggered the Spurs' Game 1 comeback, but only after Klay Thompson fouled out late. This time, he attacked from the start, scoring eight points in the first 41/2 minutes. "It wasn't our offense, it was our defense," Warriors guard Klay Thompson said. "Personally, I didn't do my job against Tony Parker." Contra Costa Times

Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, Tony Parker, Klay Thompson 

Warriors coach Mark Jackson with a hard takedown of Monta Ellis. Jackson was asked Thursday how trading Ellis to the Bucks in March 2012 not only brought Andrew Bogut in return as the inside presence the Warriors had long desired but also created a clear path for Klay Thompson to blossom at shooting guard. Jackson's response: “It helped change the culture. Obviously it was easier to pull the trigger because we knew what we had in Klay and it was time for him to be a starting two-guard. And he does everything right.” How did that trade change the culture? Jackson paused four seconds. "It helped change the culture," he finally said. Anything specific? “You know.” Sulia

Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, Trade, Monta Ellis, Mark Jackson, Andrew Bogut, Klay Thompson 

Tim Kawakami: Curry quietly to Klay T, sitting next to him at the podium: "Your stat line is amazing." Twitter @timkawakami

Golden State Warriors, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson 

Mark Kreidler: HOF Rick Barry on Curry/Thompson: "They are probably one of the greatest back-court shooting combinations that the game has ever seen." wow Twitter @MarkKreidler

Golden State Warriors, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Rick Barry 

Marcus Thompson: Ty Lawson on GSW w/o Lee: "I think Curry and Klay Thompson are going to be a lot more aggressive, and Jack ... gotta try to slow them down." Twitter @gswscribe

Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Jarrett Jack, Stephen Curry, Ty Lawson, Klay Thompson 

At the end of the Golden State Warriors' practice Monday, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson lined up at opposite baskets and engaged in a shooting contest. The game was simple: First person to make seven shots from each of the five spots beyond the three-point line wins. Or, first person to miss two shots in a row loses. Both had two teammates — one to rebound, and another to make a clean pass. Each won once. No tiebreaker needed. The outcome seemed fitting considering Golden State's backcourt tandem has shot its way to the top together this season. The pair has combined to make 444 three-pointers, surpassing the 435 Orlando's Dennis Scott and Nick Anderson hit in the 1995-96 season for the most by any duo in league history. USA Today Sports

Golden State Warriors, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson 

Curry has hit 45.2% of his shots from three-point range, third only to Detroit's Jose Calderon (46.1%) and Atlanta's Kyle Korver (45.5%) among players with at least 150 attempts. Thompson is just shy of 40%. Scott shot 42.5% when he set the NBA record with 267 three-pointers made, but was surpassed when Ray Allen hit 269 for Seattle in 2005-06 — a mark Curry could conceivably top with five games remaining. Anderson shot 39% that season, when the Shaquille O'Neal-led Magic lost to Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference finals. "That's pretty cool of an accomplishment, to sustain that kind of shooting all year," Curry said. "And for two guys to do it in the same season, it's pretty cool. I know Klay would've broken some records by himself." USA Today Sports

Golden State Warriors, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson 

After getting bumped to his backside and sliding on the hardwood, Wall quickly hopped up and circled Thompson’s direction, ignoring teammate Emeka Okafor’s attempts to get him to calm down. Wall had taken a hit to the noggin from Thompson while trying a layup on the previous possession. So as he approached Thompson, Wall shouted, “Go to the basket and I swear to God, I’ll knock your…out.” Washington Post

Golden State Warriors, Washington Wizards, John Wall, Klay Thompson 

Thompson leaned over and grabbed his shorts. Wall moved closer, towering over Thompson as he nodded and repeatedly shouted, “Go to the basket! Go to the basket!” Thompson tried to turn away, but Wall kept jawing until referee Gary Zielinski sprinted toward Wall and Thompson and – without hesitation or an attempt to diffuse the situation with a warning – went directly to assessing the players with a double technical foul. Washington Post

Golden State Warriors, Washington Wizards, John Wall, Klay Thompson 

Since Wall had already picked up a technical foul in the first quarter, Zielinski signaled for Wall to leave the court and the Wizards were forced to trudge along without their most important player. Before getting escorted to the locker room, Wall ran over to plead his case to Coach Randy Wittman. Arms folded, Wittman didn’t need to hear an explanation; no matter what led to his heated exchange with Thompson, Wall needed to keep his anger contained. “That’s your second tech, John,” Wittman said before walking away from Wall, flustered. Washington Post

Golden State Warriors, Washington Wizards, John Wall, Randy Wittman, Klay Thompson 

Wall got more animated, as he waved his arms and kicked out his leg, upset that he had to head to the showers early after collecting the third ejection of his career. “I let the team down,” said Wall, who had a team-high 14 points at the time he got booted. Washington Post

Golden State Warriors, Washington Wizards, John Wall, Klay Thompson 

Wall and Thompson were both participants in the Team USA select workouts last summer in Las Vegas, so they weren’t strangers. And asked afterward, Thompson said he understood how those two shoves pushed Wall over the edge. “I would’ve been unhappy, too. But I’m not trying to get kicked out,” Thompson said. “I think he was just frustrated. I didn’t think it was that big of a deal, though. I know John. I’ve played with him. In that moment, I understand. You’re frustrated. After you get fouled hard, then the next play you think you get fouled hard again. He’s competitive. He let his emotions get the best of him.” Washington Post

Golden State Warriors, Washington Wizards, John Wall, Klay Thompson 

Warriors guard Klay Thompson played big in blowout win at #Rockets. Then he addressed James Harden trade rumors... Does the fact that many fans hoped the Warriors traded you for Harden play into your matchup with him? "I had no idea." Sulia

Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Trade, James Harden, Klay Thompson 

You didn't hear about Bill Simmons saying Warriors turned down a trade swapping you and Harden? "I didn't know that. Even if I did, he can say what he wants. All I know is we've got a better record than them at this point. I seem to play well against him. So, yeah, it don't effect me. All I can control is what I do out there." Sulia

Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Trade, Media, James Harden, Bill Simmons, Klay Thompson 

But here's the real killer. Multiple sources have told me that, when Oklahoma City's Sam Presti decided to shop James Harden, Golden State was his first call. He wanted Klay Thompson and a pick. The Warriors would only consider the trade if Oklahoma City took back Biedrins or Jefferson for 2013 expirings, knowing they'd get crushed by the luxury tax in 2014 with Harden's extension plus Steph Curry's extension plus David Lee plus Bogut/Jefferson/Biedrins. At that point, Presti went to Washington (offering Harden for Bradley Beal, and unbelievably getting turned down), then Houston (where the shopping heated up). Presti never ended up calling Golden State back. Grantland

Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Washington Wizards, Trade, Sam Presti, James Harden, Klay Thompson