As a Warrior, Klay Thompson is the best.

I am envious of Klay. Not because he owns two titles, not because he earns over $20 million year, not because he recently inked a $80 million 10-year contract extension with his shoe business Anta, and not because he makes shooting appear effortless.

I’m envious of him as Thompson is having the time of his life in China while we’re out here tracking Woj bombs, sourced reports, free-agent meetings, and a ton of rumors. Never has Klay’s charming and endearing recklessness been on fuller show than it has been this summer.

First, there was the footage of him trying to slam a 360-degree shot in front of an enthusiastic audience, who continued to applaud after he spilt the ball off the front of the rim and landed gracefully on the blacktop.

What makes this the best of all? Just before the dunk, Klay gave a cheeky smirk and pointed to the man next to him, seemingly saying, “Watch this”? the fact that he fails to dunk in the funniest, most embarrassing way imaginable? or that he simply appears as if nothing had occurred? Regardless your perspective, this is art.

In relation to art, Klay had no qualms about showcasing his dancing skills when traveling. At this Chinese nightclub, notice how joyful he appears as he bounces up and down while raising his hands in the air. I don’t believe I ever saw him this joyful following his first or second Golden State championship.Look at how committed and concentrated he is on mastering this swing dance while clutching a basketball:

I’m viewing these films with the pride and relief of a happy father who finds footage of their child in college and discovers that while they’re not getting into any mischief, they’re still having a blast. I’m happy that Klay, who is 27 years old, seems to be able to appreciate life the same way he most likely did when he was a toddler.

Klay is enjoying his celebrity in China in a way that avoids being conceited or self-absorbed. Everything is so charming.

My colleague Chris Almeida noted during the playoffs that while Klay Thompson’s “mechanical repetition” is a formula for scoring a lot of points, it’s not a formula for making an athlete famous. It is accurate. Klay has no gimmicks, which is one of the reasons he isn’t as charismatic as Draymond Green, as beloved as Steph Curry, or as admired as Kevin Durant. Klay’s allure lies in his unwavering portrayal of the nameless character he has created for himself. Whether he’s stopping the Warriors from certain elimination in the playoffs, scoring 37 points in a quarter, or making small talk about missing a dunk with random people abroad, he stays the same. It’s captivating and just as admirable.

China is a Klaytheist nation. You ought to as well.