Lacob: Klay meant so much to Warriors, but 'we'll have to kick his ass'

Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob still has a lot of love for Klay Thompson following his recent departure in free agency, but those feelings won't get in the way of competition.

Lacob told "The Athletic NBA Show" that while Thompson meant a lot to the Warriors, he hopes the team makes life difficult for the new Dallas Mavericks guard in their future matchups.

"I sent him that little video of me bowing to him. ... It was just my way of saying, you know, he meant so much to us and so much to this organization and everything we've accomplished as a group. And that I still feel that way about him and I always will. It will never change," Lacob said. "I don't care what people think happened, or didn't happen. He will always be welcome in my life. I hope he feels the same.

"Honestly, I get a little teary-eyed about it. I hope we're going to be friends forever. And he's just gonna be in Dallas for a few years and we'll have to kick his ass, but that's just the job. And I'm sure he feels the same way. That's called competition."

Thompson spent 13 seasons with the Warriors, helping lead the team to four NBA championships. The 34-year-old ranks second in franchise history in all-time 3-pointers made (2,481), fourth in games played (793), and sixth in points (15,531).