April 7, 2026, Inglewood, California, USA: Klay Thompson 31 of the Dallas Mavericks during warmups before a 2026 NBA, Basketball Herren, USA regular season game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday April 7, 2026 at Intuit Dome Arena in Inglewood, California. JAVIER ROJAS/PI Inglewood USA - ZUMAp124 20260407_zaa_p124_017 Copyright: xJavierxRojasx
April 7, 2026, Inglewood, California, USA: Klay Thompson 31 of the Dallas Mavericks during warmups before a 2026 NBA, Basketball Herren, USA regular season game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday April 7, 2026 at Intuit Dome Arena in Inglewood, California. JAVIER ROJAS/PI Inglewood USA - ZUMAp124 20260407_zaa_p124_017 Copyright: xJavierxRojasx
Despite parting ways with mutual respect in 2019, Golden State Warriors star Klay Thompson fired back at former teammate Kevin Durant over an MVP comment he made on Instagram.
Per Durant, the Philadelphia 76ers have Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown (both former MVPs), Tyrese Maxey (a three-time All-Star), and THE LeBron James this season. In contrast, the 2016-17 Warriors had Stephen Curry, but there was Thompson, “never an MVP candidate in nothing.” This comment didn’t go well with Thompson.
“Aye man, you good? @easymoneysniper (Kevin Durant) What you using my full government name for?” the 36-year-old retorted on an Instagram story on August 4, 2026. He also shared Durant’s comments.
2026 Fanatics Festival in New York Kevin Durant participates onstage during the FIFA World Cup, WM, Weltmeisterschaft, Fussball 2026 press conference, PK, Pressekonferenz during 2026 Fanatics Festival at Jacob Javits Center in New York, NY on July 17, 2026. New York New York United States Copyright: LevxRadin
2026 Fanatics Festival in New York Kevin Durant participates onstage during the FIFA World Cup, WM, Weltmeisterschaft, Fussball 2026 press conference, PK, Pressekonferenz during 2026 Fanatics Festival at Jacob Javits Center in New York, NY on July 17, 2026. New York New York United States Copyright: LevxRadin
Durant's MVP comment was only a follow-up take. At a Team USA camp this weekend, KD stated that the 76ers can boost their offensive production with 4 players, while the Warriors had just three: Curry, Thompson and himself. This automatically makes the 76ers a better team to him.
“The last time they put three 20-point scorers on a team, they said it was unfair, which was the (Warriors) team I was on,” he said, via ESPN’s Ben Golliver. “(The 76ers) have got four 25-point scorers on this team. So, I think they’re going to be a contender.”
But how much did it make sense for Durant to call out Thompson like that?
Klay Thompson’s Significance at the Golden State Warriors
Thompson may not have been an MVP, but he has done great too. Per Fadeaway World writer Gautam Varier, Thompson made 5 All-Star teams and 2 All-NBA teams like Brown and surpassed Maxey. He also made 2 All-Defensive teams, a milestone Maxey and Brown have yet to touch.
“Maxey, in particular, and Brown should make more as time goes by, but to almost act like Thompson was some slouch compared to them is ridiculous,” wrote Varier. “Thompson was in the conversation for best two-way guard in the NBA at his peak with the Warriors.”
Over the span of 2015-17, Thompson averaged 22PPG, was the “perfect backcourt partner” for Curry and guarded several NBA hotshots. So, praising the 76ers wasn’t as much of an issue as blatantly calling out Thompson, who does have significant NBA achievements, was.
That being said, what’s your take on this? Let us know in the comments.
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Written by
Deblina Roy