‘I was 20 years old’: Kelly Oubre apologizes to Warriors’ Klay Thompson for altercation in 2017

Klay Thompson and Kelly Oubre Jr put their differences from the past behind them. The newly signed Warriors forward has apologized to Klay.

The incident that Kelly Oubre has sought forgiveness for is from 2017. This was during Oubre’s third season in the league, right at the start of the teams’ 2017-18 campaigns.

Take a closer look as it appears Kelly Oubre Jr. lands a punch to Klay’s face during the scrum. pic.twitter.com/j7dg0srh3o

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) October 28, 2017

Also Read: “The Phoenix Suns don’t care about the organization, Golden State do”: Kelly Oubre denounces Robert Sarver

According to Oubre, he was a youngster, hot-headed and naive at the time. He says he’s grown and matured in the intervening period, and is repentful for his actions in the past.

Kelly Oubre on the time he punched Klay Thompson a few years ago: “I was 19, 20 years old. I’m 24 now.” … “I’m very remorseful for the antics and the nonsense that I was in back in the day.”

— Wes Goldberg (@wcgoldberg) November 23, 2020

How does Oubre Jr fit in the Warriors’ plans for the season?

With Klay Thompson out for the entire season and possibly longer than that, the onus will be on Oubre to step up. The forward will be expected to hold one wing spot, with the other going to Andrew Wiggins. Draymond Green, Steph Curry and James Wiseman will round out the starting five in all probability.

The Warriors have said they will still push for the Finals with all that they’ve got. The fact that they’re paying luxury tax this season means that they’ll have to maximize their potential to make good on Joe Lacob’s expenditures.

Also Read: ‘A lot of tears’: Warriors legend Stephen Curry’s reaction to Klay Thompson’s Achilles injury

Oubre had career highs across the board last season with the Suns. He averaged 18.7 points, 6.4 rebounds and 35% from 3-point territory – all career highs. He is one of the most switchable defenders in the league, effectively able to guard 1-4.

With Wiggins alongside him and Draymond Green egging them on, the Warriors will push to have a defensive identity. They will also stick to the motion offenses created by Steve Kerr that propelled them to the very top of the NBA’s regular season charts for 4 seasons out of 5.