Klay Thompson will make his return to the Bay Area on Nov. 12 – Source: Imagn

The 2024-25 Emirates NBA Cup will kick off with a highly anticipated showdown between two former teammates turned opponents, as Steph Curry’s Golden State Warriors face off against Klay Thompson and his new team, the Dallas Mavericks, in the opening game of the in-season tournament.

Klay Thompson will make his return to the Bay Area on Nov. 12, marking the first night of the 2024-25 Emirates NBA Cup, according to the schedule released by the league on Tuesday.

Fans on X (formerly Twitter) were quick to express their emotions at the thought of the two “Splash Brothers” going head-to-head for the first time.

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“DAMN!! FRATRICIDAL GAME!!!!” exclaimed @555spiderYS

Thompson’s move to the Mavericks brought an end to his illustrious stint with the Warriors, where he averaged 19.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. During his time in Golden State, he was selected for five All-Star games and won four NBA championships.

“Damn, I never thought this would happen,” tweeted @AshleyL94516594.

“This is so weird, it looks fake,” added @kdgotnext7.

While many fans are excited about the matchup, there is also a sense of bittersweetness surrounding the game.

“I will be sat and there will be tears 😂,” wrote @catlikessports.

“Real men will cry,” said @yzyclouds.

Here are more reactions from fans about the upcoming Steph Curry vs. Klay Thompson matchup.

Fans react to the upcoming Steph Curry vs Klay Thompson matchup

What Klay Thompson said about the Warriors in his farewell message

After news broke of his move to the Dallas Mavericks, Klay Thompson shared a heartfelt message to the Bay Area, reflecting on the incredible journey he had with the Golden State Warriors.

“Oh Bay Area, there are not enough words and images to convey how I really feel about y’all. From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for some of the best times of my life. It was such an honor to put that Dubs jersey on from day 1,” Thompson wrote.

He emphasized that while winning championships was special, the friendships he forged during his time with the Warriors meant even more to him.

“The best part was not the rings though, it was the friendships I made that will last a lifetime,” he added.

Throughout his career, Thompson has been known for his sharpshooting, averaging an impressive 41.3% from beyond the arc.

However, his 3-point shooting percentage dropped to 38.7% in the 2023-24 season, marking the second-lowest of his career and only the second time he dipped below 40%.

His overall shooting percentage also saw a decline, with a field goal percentage of 43.2%, placing it among the bottom three seasons of his career.

Despite these challenges, Thompson posted a career-high free-throw shooting percentage of 92.7% last season.

In his final season with Golden State, Thompson averaged 17.9 points per game while shooting 38.7% from 3-point range over 77 games, marking his first season averaging under 20 points since 2013-14.

Thompson’s last game with the Warriors, a Play-In Tournament matchup against the Sacramento Kings, was a tough ending as he went 0-10 from the field.