MIAMI – With the Miami Heat on a two-game winning streak after the 145-135 win over the Indiana Pacers on Friday night, coming after the surprising 0-4 start to the season, a big bright spot was newcomer Klay Thompson. After Thompson's first explosive game for the Heat against the Pacers after a slow start to the season, he speaks about what will be an emotional upcoming road trip.

As Miami embarks on a five-game road trip on the West Coast, it starts on Monday night as the team takes on the Los Angeles Lakers, his hometown team and a franchise his father, Mychal Thompson, played for from 1987 to 1991. He said after Friday's victory that Los Angeles is the place where he “really fell in love with basketball.”

“And I love going to L.A. I love seeing my parents, my brothers, my niece and nephew. I love being in [Crypto.com Arena] because the memories I have of my dad in that arena are so dear to my heart,” Thompson said after scoring 25 points on shooting nine of 14 from the field and seven of 12 from three-point range.

Klay Thompson spoke about returning to LA on the upcoming road trip, and also about the prospect of facing his former team in the Warriors: #Heat

“Well, it's very surreal being in the Eastern Conference, going back there only once now. And I love going to L.A. I love seeing my… pic.twitter.com/wRlhu28D34

— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) October 31, 2026

Heat's Klay Thompson on wanting to beat the Warriors “bad”

Article Continues Below

Thompson continued talking about the Heat's West Coast road trip, which will also include Thursday night's matchup against the Golden State Warriors, a team he obviously carries a lot of emotions with. Winning four championships with the franchise and being there for 13 seasons, he's created bonds with Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, head coach Steve Kerr, and many others, but made sure to say that he wants to “beat them bad.”

“All the memories I was able to make up there are second to none. And I see so many guys I grew up with, and I want to beat them bad,” Thompson said. “We're all still very competitive in our mid-30s, and I love to go compete against them because they're some of my best friends, and I just can't wait to go back and see familiar faces as well.”

At any rate, Thompson and Miami look to keep the winning ways going on Monday against the Lakers.