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Klay Thompson named the two strongest Warriors teammates
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- Klay Thompson named the two strongest Warriors teammates
The Golden State Warriors are widely regarded as the most dominant team of the last decade. Their four championship banners and six Finals appearances speak for themselves, making them the last great NBA dynasty. It was a period that also changed the very landscape of basketball.
The unselfish nature and the desired expertise on the roster made the Warriors so successful. While Stephen Curry , Klay Thompson , Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala were indeed the pillars of the franchise, Kevin Durant 's addition made them an unstoppable force.
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Despite all the talent on the roster, what also gave Golden State the edge was the camaraderie among teammates and the locker room environment. That was really visible during games, practices and even when the crew hit the weight room together as well.
In an old interview with Muscle and Fitness, Klay Thompson addressed the importance of strength training and nutrition on those teams. When asked which teammate moved the most weight, the Warriors guard had two veteran names in his mind.
"Probably David West . That guy is really strong. He's like grown-man strong, too. That guy's been in the league for 14 years. He boxes, he lifts a lot of weight. And the same with Andre Iguodala. That guy is freakishly strong as well. He can do 30 or 40 pullups at a time," revealed Klay, who could also bench an impressive 225lbs.
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Their role on the Warriors
Both David West and Andre Iguodala played their versions as leaders on the Warriors. Standing at 6'9", West was a key glue guy under the rim. Not the most athletically gifted, he relied on his mid-range game and his old-school, meticulous defense, especially in the interior.
While West emphasized physical toughness, Iguodala added the mental aspect along with his physical gifts. One of Coach Steve Kerr's most trusted soldiers, Iggy was an integral part of the championship nucleus. His high basketball IQ, leadership, team-first mentality and defensive presence were invaluable.
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No surprises, West and Iguodala had a strong presence in the locker room. They had the physical raw strength, but the veteran teammates also displayed strong mental will. Another seasoned player who also drew the same reception as them was Shaun Livingston .
Even though they were not the biggest stars for their teams, their contributions could never be ignored, as Coach Kerr attested, too.
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The stabilizers in Golden State
Given Thompson's description of their strength, West and Iguodala spent considerable time in the weight room. But their fit with other stars on the Golden State is what made them so valuable.
"We like the collective basketball IQ. We like the mixture when we throw Klay and KD with them. We get a couple of long-range shooters to go with that spacing. You know, good length defensively, good intelligence. And that lineup's been good for the most part, really good," stated Kerr in post-game interaction with the reporters in 2016.
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Players like West and Iguodala were surely integral to any team's championship pursuit. While they brought tenacity and toughness, they also served as the binding force in the locker room.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Feb 9, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
