The Golden State Warriors gunner visited the Philippines last month.
A few years after China Klay, it was the turn of Manila Klay.
Golden State Warriors star Klay Thompson visited the Philippines for the first time last month as part of a promotional tour for a popular shoe brand he is endorsing.
Thompson, along with teammate Kevon Looney, did a couple of meet-and-greet events and several media affairs, including one with Esquire Philippines, where he briefly talked about his uncle, Andy Thompson, who played in the PBA as an import in 1986.
"My Uncle Andy told me I would have a good time [in the Philippines] just off his experience. He loved the fans and he loved playing in the Philippine Basketball Association, and he talks about it with so much joy," said Thompson in his interview with Esquire Philippines' Bryle Suralta.
The four-time champion sported a traditional Barong Tagalog during the evening, and he told Suralta that wearing it was "wonderful" and "looks even better."
The 33-year-old guard, who averaged 21.9 points on 41.2% three-point shooting last season, also acknowledged the huge number of Warriors fans in the Philippines and the addition of future Hall of Famer Chris Paul to the Bay Area.
"He's going to make me, get me a lot of easy looks. He's going to unlock a whole new aspect of our team, I think, with his playmaking, especially for Steph [Curry] and me. We can play off the ball, run around screens and he's just a high-level competitor," said Thompson.
The event, held in a Filipino restaurant in Quezon City, also featured, quite fittingly, a local cuisine-inspired dinner. And as Suralta reported, Thompson particularly liked one Filipino dish. No, it's not adobo. Or sinigang.
"During dinner, Thompson loved the bistek, so nice that he ordered a plate twice," wrote Suralta.
Can we call him Bistek Klay now? Please.