If you’ve spent more than five minutes on NBA Twitter or scrolled through Warriors Reddit during the dynasty years, you’ve seen it. That specific, slightly dazed, mouth-agape expression of Klay Thompson perfectly juxtaposed with Patrick Star from SpongeBob SquarePants. It’s uncanny.
Honestly, the Klay Thompson Patrick Star comparison is one of those rare internet phenomena that actually makes sense the longer you look at it. It isn’t just about the physical resemblance—though the "high-top" hair Klay rocked for a while certainly did him no favors in escaping the Starfish allegations. It's about the energy. The "vibes," as the kids say.
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Why the Klay Thompson Patrick Star Comparison Stuck
Most NBA memes have a shelf life of about three weeks. This one has lasted nearly a decade. Why? Because Klay Thompson is the only superstar in professional sports who could accidentally wander onto a local news broadcast as a "random bystander" to talk about scaffolding safety—which he actually did in 2017—and not have it feel like a PR stunt.
That is pure Patrick Star energy. It's that blissful, detached-from-reality confidence.
The Viral Artwork
The comparison went nuclear around 2017. An artist on Instagram (username hhhhytian) created a series of illustrations reimagining the Golden State Warriors as Bikini Bottom residents.
- Steph Curry was SpongeBob (the face of the franchise, always hyped).
- Kevin Durant was Squidward (lanky, misunderstood, and occasionally grumpy).
- Klay Thompson was Patrick Star.
It was perfect. The drawing of "Klay-trick" captured that signature blank stare Klay gets right before he drops 37 points in a single quarter. It’s that look of a man who might be thinking about the complexities of a zone defense, or might just be thinking about a ham sandwich. There is no middle ground.
The Patrick Beverley Twist (2025-2026 Context)
Fast forward to late 2025, and the name "Patrick" started appearing next to Klay’s in search results again, but for a much saltier reason. This time it wasn't a cartoon starfish; it was Patrick Beverley.
Basically, Pat Bev and Jason Williams went on the Hoopin’ N Hollerin’ podcast and decided to take some shots at Klay’s performance with the Dallas Mavericks. They didn't just talk about his shooting percentages, though. They dragged his personal life into it, specifically his relationship with Megan Thee Stallion.
Klay didn't take it lying down. He hopped on Instagram and called the comments "disgusting and disturbing." It was a rare moment where the "Patrick Star" version of Klay—the chill, boat-loving, newspaper-reading guy—disappeared, and the four-time champ came out to play.
"How would yall feel if I referred to your wives in such a way? Do better fellas." — Klay Thompson via Instagram.
It’s a weird full-circle moment for the SEO keywords. You start looking for a funny meme about a pink starfish, and you end up in the middle of a 2026 NBA locker room drama involving one of the greatest shooters ever and one of the league's most notorious "instigators."
The "Klaytrick" Legacy: More Than a Joke
Is it disrespectful to compare a future Hall of Famer to a guy who lives under a rock? Kinda. But Klay has always leaned into his eccentricities. He’s the guy who:
- Reads a physical newspaper in the locker room to "limit his screen time."
- Talks to his boat (named Nordic Queen) like it’s a person.
- Rides an E-bike to home games to reduce his carbon footprint.
There’s a certain zen-like quality to Klay Thompson that Patrick Star embodies. Patrick isn't just "dumb"—he's unbothered. He exists in his own lane. When Klay is "Game 6 Klay," he isn't thinking about the pressure or the legacy. He’s just throwing a rock into the ocean.
Scaffolding and Space Suits
If you want to understand the soul of the Klay Thompson Patrick Star connection, look no further than the 2017 scaffolding interview. Klay was literally just walking down the street in New York when a news crew asked him about a construction accident. He gave a serious, thoughtful answer about the dangers of scaffolding.
He didn't mention he was a multi-millionaire athlete. He didn't try to go viral. He was just a guy. Just like Patrick Star once famously said: "The inner machinations of my mind are an enigma."
How to Lean Into the Klay Energy
If you're a fan of Klay (or Patrick), there are actually a few "life lessons" to take away from this weird internet crossover.
- Protect your peace: Klay’s love for boating and reading shows the importance of unplugging from the "noise" of the world.
- Own your weirdness: Whether you're being compared to a starfish or getting criticized on a podcast, staying true to your personality is the ultimate win.
- Focus on the craft: At the end of the day, Klay is a 4-time champ because he can shoot the lights out. The memes are just a side effect of greatness.
If you’re looking to grab some of that "Klaytrick" nostalgia, you can still find the original mashup artwork on sites like Redbubble. It’s a staple of Bay Area sports culture, even now that Klay is wearing a Mavericks jersey in Dallas. Some things just transcend team colors.
Next Step: Check out the original 2017 "Klay as Patrick Star" artist rendering to see why the internet lost its mind. It’s still the gold standard for NBA-cartoon crossovers.