The Golden State Warriors bid farewell to the iconic Splash Brothers era this week as Klay Thompson sailed off to join the Dallas Mavericks. However, the Warriors wasted no time in rekindling their love affair with three-point shooting, quickly acquiring sharpshooter Buddy Hield in a sign-and-trade deal with the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Splash Brothers – Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson – revolutionized the NBA with their unprecedented barrage of long-range bombs, forever altering the landscape of the game. Curry currently sits atop the all-time three-point leaderboard with 3,747 made threes, while Thompson holds a respectable sixth place with 2,481.
With Hield’s arrival, a new nickname is already brewing among NBA fans: the “Splash Buddies.” While Hield might not possess the same legendary status as Thompson, his elite shooting touch and ability to stretch the floor make him a worthy successor to the Splash Brothers’ legacy.
The Splash Buddies. pic.twitter.com/LVoVgD5boq
— StatMuse (@statmuse) July 4, 2024
New Duo in the Bay. What nick name you giving them? I been seeing Splash Buddies lmao.#dubnation pic.twitter.com/CbpGVn9SHN
— chano (@chanodesigns) July 4, 2024
Splash buddies. I like the move. Now we need one more. #dubnation https://t.co/tBMgzjjA8k
— Kylen Mills (@KylenMills) July 4, 2024
I am on board with Splash Buddies. #DubNation 😆 https://t.co/4nXYL2EVfR
— Dr. Nirav Pandya, M.D. (@DrNiravPandya) July 4, 2024
they’re the Splash Buddies now https://t.co/HRZJGYb1Hg
— sreekar (@sreekyshooter) July 3, 2024
Splash buddies pic.twitter.com/kDg1PMLCyB
— Hamza | Free🇵🇸 (@30dacloser) July 4, 2024
Hield doesn’t boast quite the amount of career accolades as Thompson, but he can still shoot the basketball. Over eight seasons, Hield has drained 1,924 three-pointers on a 40% clip. In 2023-24, Hield shot 38.6% from deep while appearing in a league-high 84 games for the Indiana Pacers and 76ers.
The Warriors’ front office, led by general manager Mike Dunleavy, recognized the need to maintain their offensive firepower after Thompson’s departure. Hield’s consistent shooting and ability to create space for Curry and the rest of the team will be crucial in their pursuit of another championship.
As the 2024-25 season approaches, the Splash Buddies era promises to bring a new dimension to the Warriors’ offense. While the Splash Brothers will always hold a special place in the hearts of Golden State fans, the Splash Buddies are poised to carry the torch and continue the team’s tradition of long-range dominance.