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Klay Thompson reveals Golden State Warriors’ impressive ball movement is modelled on BARCELONA – after coach Steve Kerr introduced them to LaLiga giants’ ‘Tiki Taka’ style
- The Warriors celebrated last year’s title Tuesday night before beating the Lakers
- And Klay Thompson mentioned Barcelona as a source of inspiration for the team
- The Warriors have won four titles in the last eight years under coach Steve Kerr
- Thompson scored 18 points in his season debut for the Warriors on Tuesday
- Click here for all your latest international Sports news from DailyMail.com
Klay Thompson and his Warriors teammates celebrated their 2021-22 title on Tuesday night, and the sharpshooter mentioned an unlikely source as inspiration for the team’s success.
The Warriors held a ring ceremony before their opener vs. the Lakers, and following a comfortable 123-109 win, Thompson took stock of his fourth title as he sat with the NBA on TNT crew.
As scores of fans reveled in the win around him, Thompson paid homage to a dynasty of another sport when discussing the team’s style of play.
Klay Thompson spoke to the NBA on TNT crew after the game and mentioned Barcelona
Andre Iguodala (left) Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson pose with their championship rings
‘You guys are the best at moving without the ball I’ve seen in a long time,’ Charles Barkley first said to him.
‘Yea, I give credit to [head coach] Steve [Kerr], man. He came in and, he had a vision just to keep that thing hot,’ Thompson said.
‘He gave us the perfect example: in FC Barcelona they call it ‘tiki taka’, it’s just kick to the open man.
‘And with us, just hit the open man, keep moving and it just plays to me and Steph’s strengths so much as well as Draymond. Because Draymond can facilitate, same with [Wiggins] and Jordan [Poole].’
That approach was certainly on display Tuesday night, as Curry, Green, Wiggins and Poole all had at least four assists and four players (including Thompson) scored in double figures.
The 32-year-old scored 18 points in the contest in only 20 minutes and will look to continue working himself into game shape after playing just 32 games last year in the regular season after recovering from an Achilles injury.
Barcelona’s ‘tiki taka’ style was popularized when Pep Guardiola was manager of the club, and it seems he has an affinity for Thompson’s sport as well.
The current Man City manager has been spotted at several basketball games over the years and previously compared City’s growing familiarity with Liverpool to the NBA playoffs.
Thompson and his Warriors teammates are once again considered a favorite to lift the Larry O’Brien trophy, and play the Nuggets next on Friday.
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