Klay Thompson may be the most recognized member of his family, but he is not the only athlete.
The Warriors’ four-time NBA champion has had an exceptionally successful career, which he credits to his family — particularly his brothers — for helping him get to where he is.
Thompson mentioned his brothers during his remarks during the Golden State Warriors’ championship parade in 2015. “Without them, I wouldn’t be the player I am, playing against them every day one-on-one.”
Klay’s brothers also had professional athletic careers. His father, Mychal, has ties to the Lakers, having won two NBA championships in Los Angeles. His mother was also a collegiate athlete.
The Sporting News provides further information about the Thompson family of athletes.
Klay Thompson’s father: Mychal Thompson
Mychal’s name might seem familiar because he is a two-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Mychal, unlike Klay, was a 6-foot-10 big man. The Portland Trail Blazers selected him as the first overall pick in the 1978 NBA Draft out of Minnesota. Mychal spent eight seasons with Portland, averaging 16.7 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.4 blocks per game.
The Trail Blazers traded him to the San Antonio Spurs in the 1986 offseason, and then again to Los Angeles at the 1986-87 deadline.
Mychal helped the Lakers win the NBA Finals in 1987 and 1988. He retired after 12 seasons in the NBA.
He is still a radio personality in Los Angeles, covering the Lakers.
Klay Thompson’s mother: Julie Thompson
Julie was a star volleyball player at the University of Portland, where she met her husband, Mychal. She transferred to the University of San Francisco and resumed her collegiate volleyball career.
The Thompsons’ athletic bloodlines extend beyond their 6-foot-10, NBA champion father.
Klay Thompson’s older brother: Mychel Thompson
Mychel, Klay’s older brother, played four years of college basketball at Pepperdine. Across four seasons, he averaged 11.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.1 steals per game.
Mychel was undrafted in 2011, but he immediately started his D-League career. He spent five seasons in the D-League and appeared in five games for the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2011-12, including a career-high eight points against the Celtics.
Mychel was named to the All-Rookie Second Team in the 2012 D-League and won the championship in 2015 with the Santa Cruz Warriors, Golden State’s affiliate team.
For a time, he and Seth Curry were teammates with Santa Cruz, forming “The Splash Brothers” of the D-League.
Klay Thompson’s younger brother is Trayce Thompson
Trayce is now an outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The youngest Thompson sibling had planned to play collegiate baseball at UCLA, but he changed his mind when he was offered a professional contract.
The Chicago White Sox selected Trayce in the second round (61st overall) of the 2009 Major League Baseball draft. For baseball fans, he was selected two picks behind Nolan Arenado, the future superstar third baseman.
He made his MLB debut with the White Sox in 2015 and has since bounced around. Trayce has previously played with the Oakland Athletics, White Sox (again), Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, and Dodgers.