The Warriors legend was showered with love upon returning home

SAN FRANCISCO — At 4:19 p.m., Klay Thompson entered the Chase Center with his teammates and was met by about 400 Warriors employees forming a tunnel and donning captain’s hats.

Thompson had downplayed the significance of the night, saying his first game against the team with which he spent the first 13 years of his career was just another game. But at that moment it hit him as cameras shot into his face. He put his hands together as a sign of gratitude.

“To be the guy that hangs four banners and does it in a way that captures the hearts of the fans,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said before the game. “With Klay it’s not just about the skill, it’s not just about the commitment to the organization, the desire to compete. He just has something, an aura, that immediately connected our fans with him. That’s what it takes. It’s pretty rare for someone to do all that and have the impact that Klay had.”

About three hours later, the actual celebrations began.

A sellout crowd at Chase Center, all wearing white captain’s hats, erupted in an uproar when the Warriors’ announcer declared Thompson was returning. They saluted with their caps after a 45-second video montage played, ending with a “Thank you, Klay” message. Both the players and coaches from the Warriors and Mavericks craned their necks to watch the tribute.

When it ended, Thompson, the four-time champion and Bay Area legend, felt the love. Warriors fans gave a loud standing ovation for at least a minute.

Thompson, never one to hide his feelings, took a moment to himself in the back corner of the Chase Center court. He folded his hands above his head to thank the crowd and threw a left-handed punch.

Steph Curry had planned to take the microphone and address the crowd, but he and Thompson talked about it Monday night and concluded it wouldn’t be necessary.

Thompson has been at the center of several emotional nights in Warriors history. Perhaps most memorable is his return to the field in 2022 after being sidelined for 941 days due to injury.

“It was a welcome back,” Kerr said. “We knew there were a lot of good times ahead. In fact, there was a championship six months later. This is obviously more of a farewell. The first time we saw him… It’s going to feel very strange, but it’s going to be a different vibe, I think. More like a thank you and a goodbye.”

Andre Iguodala, Festus Ezeli and Zaza Pachulia were among Thompson’s former teammates who were on hand to say goodbye. They were some of more than 18,000 people in the building who showered Thompson with gratitude.

Thompson left the Warriors in the summer for a fresh start with the Mavericks, who won the West title last year. Although he performed well for the Warriors after returning from career-threatening injuries – helping them win the 2022 title and leading the league in 3s the following year – Thompson was no longer the same player he was before his Achilles tendon and ACL injuries and had done so to cope mentally.