How Klay hopes to channel Kobe as Warriors go to Denver up 2-0 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
The Warriors had Chase Center looking like Oracle Arena during the peak of their dynasty as they put on a show in Game 2, a 126-106 win over the Denver Nuggets on Monday night.
The Splash Bros had themselves a Poole party as Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole erupted for an unbelievable 84 points collectively.
Golden State took the early 2-0 lead in the series, but Thompson knows there’s still work to do.
“Now that we’re back in rhythm of playing almost every other day, we all feel great,” Thompson said on NBC Sports Bay Area’s Warriors Postgame Live. “I feel great. 2-0 to start the playoffs is great, but I think about my idol Kobe [Bryant] and that famous clip of him just so stoic during the 2009 Finals when he’s talking about the job not being finished. So that’s what Draymond reiterated in the locker room and that’s the feeling we’re going with to Denver.”
Klay, like the late Kobe, is no stranger to the playoff atmosphere and loves to compete.
And as a leader of the Warriors’ roster mixed with veterans and young guys, Klay knows he has to remind the squad to stay locked in as they get ready to head to Denver for Game 3 and Game 4.
Kobe is remembered for a press conference during the 2009 NBA Finals when the Los Angeles Lakers went head-to-head with the Orlando Magic.
When asked why he wasn’t all smiles after going up 2-0, Kobe famously responded: “What’s there to be happy about? Job’s not finished. Job finished? I don’t think so.”
The Lakers ended up losing that next game, so Bryant wasn’t far off from his comments. But the NBA superstar eventually led the Lakers to win their 15th NBA title.
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Klay has been outspoken about his admiration for Kobe. Now in his 11th season in the league, he hopes to live by his role model’s words as he pushes for his fourth NBA championship ring.
