Klay Thompson: “My heart is in the Bahamas and the West Coast.”

Oregon’s Portland If Klay Thompson needs to be motivated and revitalized once more, he might want to reconsider diving into the ocean.

In the days leading up to Game 4 of the Warriors’ first-round series against the Clippers last month, Thompson took advantage of a day off in Los Angeles to cool off in the Pacific Ocean. Thompson, though, might not want to swim here before the Warriors play the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 3 of the Western Conference on Saturday.

Thompson joked, “You want to go to the Oregon coast? You might get hypothermia.” You are welcome to participate briefly. It would not matter. I may have to pack a wet suit. There could be a large-looking seal or a shark nearby.

Thompson’s remarks could make some people giggle. They usually do. Thompson, though, has firsthand knowledge. Portland was home to him during his early years. He then participated in youth baseball, basketball, football, and soccer. Thompson has always enjoyed being outside, much as he does in the Bay Area. Thompson recently questioned whether he truly thought of Portland as his home, even after taking into consideration that he has lived in the Bahamas, Los Angeles, and the Bay Area.

“Portland is high on my list simply because I grew up there,” Thompson remarked. “My heart belongs in the Bahamas and the West Coast.”How Portland came to be Thomson

Consequently, Thompson’s schedule here consists of more than just participating in the Trail Blazers’ Games 3 (Saturday) and 4 (Monday). He thinks Burgerville is the best burger place in Portland, so that’s where he’s going to eat. Along with his childhood buddies, he intends to pay a visit to his mother’s side relatives, uncles, and aunts, Julie. Additionally, Thompson might prefer Portland’s cold weather even if he prefers the bright skies and milder temperatures in the Bahamas, Los Angeles, and the Bay Area.

Thompson remarked, “I can adapt to anything, like a chameleon.” “Yes, I adore Portland. To be honest, I don’t mind the rain. I am grateful for Oregon’s greenness. I value the fresh air, the trees, the stunning scenery, and the terrain.

Thompson did not always stay outside, even though he tolerated the frequent clouds and storms. Thompson was frequently forced to stay indoors by the cloudy weather. On the hardwood, he then found his first love.

Thompson claimed, “I spent so much dang time in the gym because of the rain—it rained so much up there.” “Thank you for it,”

Of course. Since then, Thompson has solidified an eight-year NBA career with the Warriors, winning three NBA titles, making five All-Star teams, and setting numerous shooting records.

Thompson’s foundation began as a seventh grader at a youth basketball camp at Lake Oswego, long before he built out that career. Later, Joey Kaempf assisted Thompson in honing his shooting technique. Considering that he carved out a successful NBA career with the Portland Trail Blazers (1978–1986), San Antonio Spurs (1986–87), and Los Angeles Lakers (1987–1991), Thompson’s father, Mychal, achieved the same thing. Mychal did, however, give Kaempf credit for “teaching the fundamentals and for Klay learning how to play the game the right way.”

Thompson stated, “Since then, I’ve just fallen in love with shooting.”

Thompson also developed a deep interest for other youth sports.

Thompson played youth football as a quarterback from the sixth to the eighth grade (2001–2003). Mychal used to tell his son that Klay was built like former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana since he was “so smooth and so accurate as a passer.” Klay’s youth football coach, Steve Beyrle, was equally astounded by how he overcame his timidity as a playcaller by relying on his throwing accuracy, mobility, and decision-making. So much so that Beyrle thinks if Thompson had kept playing football in high school, universities would have taken an interest.

Beyoncé remarked, “I wonder what would have happened.” “Klay’s football skills were more distinctive than his basketball abilities.”

As a baseball player for the Lake Oswego Lakers, Klay was also exceptional. With his all-around skill set as a pitcher and shortstop, Klay won a city title at the age of 11. Due to his excellent hitting and baserunning, Bill Mooney, the coach of both Klay and his two brothers (Trayce and Mychel), used Klay as his leadoff hitter.

By finding a suitable balance between taking advantage of the opposition’s inattention and without taking too many chances, Mooney discovered that Klay was an efficient basestealer. When Klay was on the mound, Mooney frequently used him because of his “very deceptive” curveball. Mychal compared Klay’s curveball to Bert Blyleven, a former Major League pitcher. Mooney saw Klay was unfazed by striking out or making a mistake, just like he is when it comes to overcoming shooting slumps.

“I constantly make fun of Mychal and Klay,” Mooney remarked. “I’ll help him get back to being a pitcher when he wants to really be a professional athlete and finishes his rec league in the NBA.”Thompson is a “big-time” Blazers fan who grew up. Klay frequently makes jokes about getting into the major leagues. However, Mychal stated that Klay “knew basketball was going to be his main sport” even at that point. The fact that Mychal had already secured an NBA career helped. Mychal frequently brought Klay to Trail Blazers games after he ceased to play professionally.

Klay quickly developed into what he referred to as a “big-time Blazers fan” for reasons other than Portland choosing Mychal as the first pick in the 1978 NBA Draft. Klay was frequently taken by Mychal to the Rose Garden, which is now the Moda Center after renovations and a name change.

Then, Klay grew close to Rasheed Wallace’s two boys and eventually regarded him as his favorite player. Thompson got to know Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan following a 1998 Chicago Bulls game against Portland.

“That was probably my favorite memory because it was like you had to go to that game when they came to town,” Klay remarked. “What we bring to town when the Warriors come is kind of similar.”

Jordan’s stature is not comparable to Klay’s. However, Klay has also encouraged friends and relatives from his youth to go to Blazer games whenever the Warriors come to town. Many memories have been made. When the Warriors defeated Portland in five games during the 2016 Western Conference semifinals, he scored thirty points in one of his three games. This season, against Portland, Klay scored 32 points while shooting 12 of 21 from the field and 4 of 5 from beyond the arc, ending a nine-game skid. After making a shot, Klay even had a conversation with his right hand.

Since I’ve lived there, not much has changed, Klay claimed. “Going back is always enjoyable.”How Klay managed to get out of Portland

After all, Klay spent his early years engaging in outdoor play, sports, and friendship. So much so that, in Mychal’s estimation, “it seemed like we were making 60 pancakes and 20 hamburgers for their friends every Saturday.”

Eventually the good days came to an end. In 2004, Mychal relocated his family to Orange County after taking a job as the Lakers’ radio analyst—a position he continues to retain for the next fifteen years.

Considering the friendships his three sons had made in Portland and “how much they loved living there,” Mychal thought the relocation would be challenging. Klay seemed to brush off the move as he does when he’s having a shooting slump.

According to Mychal, Layla is highly adaptive. It hurts to part from his pals. However, he’s a laid-back child. He is contemplative and gives everything careful thought. Even though he detested going, I thought he would get used to it.

It was Klay. When Klay was a senior at Santa Margarita Catholic High over ten years ago, Mychal signed him up. There, he helped the basketball team win a Division III state championship and end up with a 30-5 record. That attracted enough attention to earn Klay a scholarship at Washington State. Following three years of becoming the Cougars’ first-ever 3-point shooter (242) and third-all-time top scorer (1,756), Klay was selected by the Warriors as the No. 11 choice in the 2011 NBA Draft.

After eight years, Klay is back in a place he can call home. Therefore, Klay is not limited to plunging into one of the city’s icy rivers or lakes for inspiration. However, Klay might just take a quick swim in Lake Oswego, the Willamette River, or the Columbia River.

“There are some lovely bodies of water nearby,” Thompson remarked. “Up there, there are a lot of them.”