The NBA league is a pool of players from different parts of the world, with diverse races and colorful backgrounds. One of the most famous NBA stars from other ethnicity is Klay Thompson. NBA fans like you can’t skip out on this excellent shooter. What is Klay Thompson’s ethnicity, then?

If you are dying to know about Klay Thompson’s parents and colorful ethnic background, read out every single detail of this blog. You will be amazed to know that his parents were from different cultural identities. Check it out! What are you waiting for?

Where is Klay Thompson From?

According to his biography on the official NBA website, Klay Alexander Thompson was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1990. When Klay Thompson was two years old, his family moved to Lake Oswego, Oregon—where he met Kevin Love, who would later become an NBA star.

They were raised in Oregon by their parents as Catholics. Hence, they moved to Ladera Ranch, California, at 14 and graduated from a Catholic school named Santa Margarita Catholic High School in 2008.

During his high school years, Klay Thompson competed in numerous basketball leagues and was awarded prestigious accolades. In his senior year, he recorded seven three-pointers, Division III State Player of the Year, and the highly coveted League MVP award.

Going back to the question above: where is Klay Thompson from? He spent most of his childhood and secondary years in California. Hence, he is technically from California, where he was born and raised.

Is Klay Thompson Mixed?

Another question regarding Klay Thompson’s ethnicity that makes rounds on the internet is: is Klay Thompson mixed? You cannot answer this unless you have a glimpse of knowledge about Klay Thompson’s father and mom’s background. Below is an explanation of his parents’ ethnic background.

Technically, Klay Thompson is a biracial NBA player since his father is Bahamian and his mother is American, according to the data from NBA Family Wiki. Some think his race contributed to his basketball prowess, but his parents’ background makes up most of his athletic interests.

If you are curious about Klay Thompson’s mother and father, read the discussion in the next section about his parents. You will see a different angle of his basketball foundation, which you will consider.

Who are Klay Thompson’s Parents?

They say parental support and genetics are something to blame for a child’s personal interest and talent. Klay Thompson is a perfect example of both narratives, as both his parents are supportive of his basketball stints from early childhood until now, not to mention that they were athletes in their youth.

• Father (Bahamian)

Klay Thompson’s father, Mychal, was born in Nassau, Bahamas, to a Catholic family. In his teens, he moved to Miami, Florida, to try his luck in the American basketball industry and attended the Miami Jackson Senior High School. Later on, he was officially drafted to the NBA in 1978 as the top overall pick. He won two NBA championships as a player for the Lakers but was also a part of the San Antonio Spurs and Portland Trail Blazers.

• Mother (American)

Klay Thompson’s mother, Julie, was an American athlete from Ridgefield, Washington. She was a former volleyball player from the University of Portland and San Fransisco. She is currently working in academia, but it is evident that her son, Klay, got massive support from her in his early career as an amateur basketball player.

It has become clear where and how Klay Thompson got interested in sports, particularly basketball. His parents were both athletes in their youth and passed down their athletic genes to their kids. 

Other Biracial Players in NBA 

The NBA embraces inclusivity and provides opportunities to biracial players, including Klay Thompson. Below are some of the biracial players in the NBA league; check them out.

• Joakim Noah

Noah is not just mixed-race but also a mix of two cultures. He is the son of famous personalities, Swedish model Cecilia Rodhe and African-French tennis star Yannick Noah. Although he was born in France, he developed his basketball skills in a prestigious private school in New York and on Harlem playgrounds.

• Blake Griffin

Griffin’s father was black, and his mother was white, which made him a biracial NBA player. He was born in Oklahoma, where he spent playing basketball in his high school and college years. During the 2009 draft, he was selected as the first overall pick. His first official NBA appearance was in 2010 when he made a bold statement about his rookie years.

• Shane Battier

Battier was born in Birmingham, Michigan, to a Black father and a White mother. When he was younger, the white students at his private school singled him out for being Black, while the Black players on his AAU team thought he was White. Battier would win an NCAA championship with Duke and become one of the best defenders in the NBA.

3 Interesting Facts About Klay Thompson

Basketball stars are viewed as icons in mainstream media, sometimes creating an inhuman illusion about their lives. However, there are aspects of their personalities that the majority of viewers are unaware of. The point below will let you look at Klay Thompson’s life, which makes him more exciting and close to your existence.

• He is currently dating Laura Harrier.

Harrier is a former model and is currently working as an actress. You may have known her as Liz Allan of the Spiderman movie when she was 17. They started seeing each other in 2018 and even made clues of their romance through social media and spotted spending time together on vacation. They reportedly separated in 2020, but reports say they got back together recently.

• His brothers are in the field of sports.

His older brother, Mychel, played basketball and even spent time with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA. Trayce, his younger brother, managed to get a spot in Major League Baseball in the meantime. How likely is it that his older brother is even the same height as him?

• His heart is pure

On and off the NBA courts, Klay Thompson consistently demonstrates that he is a wonderful and pure-hearted person. His kindness manifested when he pledged to give $1000 for each point he scored during his home games against the Wizards, Raptors, and Pistons in 2017 and raised money for the California Wildfires.

Wrapping Things Up: What is Klay Thompson’s Ethnicity?

Although ethnicity has nothing to do with a player’s athletic prowess, basketball enthusiasts often ask this question: what is Klay Thompson’s ethnicity? So that you know, Klay Thompson is biracial or Bahamian-American since his father was from the Bahamas and her mother was born in the United States.

If you are a biracial aspirant, you need not worry because the NBA is becoming more inclusive these days. You need never be afraid to try your luck because of your ethnicity and cultural background; you are a great person and athlete no matter your genetic makeup.

If you’re interested in learning Klay Thompson’s story, check out this basketball biography book.

We hope you enjoyed this post! If you did, be sure to check out our other basketball FAQ articles here.

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