Klay Thompson has an awkward situation on his hands, with the Warriors signing a player he savagely mocked a couple of years ago.
That player is Rodney McGruder, who signed a training camp deal with the Golden State Warriors on Monday, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Their beef stems from an incident that occurred on January 30, 2021. When McGruder had some choice words for Warriors players after his Pistons suffered a 118-91 loss at Chase Center, Thompson had something to say about it on the local broadcast.
“I don’t know, this guy might be out of the league pretty soon,” Thompson said. “He’s probably mad about that. Who knows? He’s over here checking my guy … trying to start something like he’s a good player or something. Bro, get out of here.”
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Despite being in the locker room at the time everything went down, Draymond Green also had something to say about McGruder’s antics after the game.
“When the f—k did Rodney McGruder become the tough guy of the team?” Green said. “I don’t know, man. Everybody in the league tough these days. It’s crazy. I’ve seen a lot of tough guys this year. I don’t understand it.
“But I know ain’t nobody scared of no damn Rodney McGruder, like f—king kidding me? It’s crazy. Insane. But Klay said it best. Klay said it best. So, yeah, leave it at that.”
This is hardly the first time beefing NBA players have had to bury the hatchet after becoming teammates, with a noticeable example being Russell Westbrook and Patrick Beverley going from longtime enemies to close teammates on the Lakers.
Now McGruder, Thompson and Green will have to take a page out of Westbrook and Beverley’s book as they head into training camp.
