One of the favorite bromances that every NBA fan has treasured in the past decade has come to an end. Klay Thompson made an Instagram post mourning the death of his dog, Rocco, last night. The Warriors legend built a huge fan following on the back of his glimpses with his English bulldog.
Klay Thompson wrote an emotional caption eulogizing his best friend.
I’m gonna miss Rocco a lot, 13 glorious years with my boy . I know he’s in doggy heaven poppin somebody’s ball. A great dynasty dog he was. Thank you for all the sweet messages ! All dogs go to Heaven !
Klay Thompson wrote on Instagram
Rocco had his own Instagram profile, which was run by Klay Thompson himself. The latest post on this profile was made two years ago, when the dog was still healthy and hale. He named Rocco as his first ‘essential’ on a video interview with GQ in 2019.
He’s a loyal steed. And he’s the first pet I’ve ever owned, so Rocco you’ll forever hold a special place in my heart buddy.
Klay Thompson had described his relationship with his dog ardently
Rocco lived for 13 years and had his best years during the Golden State Warriors‘ legendary run of five NBA Finals. He was a prominent feature of Thompson’s celebration videos and the Warriors’ four championship parades. Thompson would often take Rocco out to his boat while going live on Instagram. This became more of a fixture for the legendary shooting guard in the latter years of his Warriors tenure.
Thompson also paid tribute to Rocco during his lifetime in a variety of ways. He released colorways dedicated to his bulldog for his signature shoe line, Anta KT, which he has worn during the last eight NBA seasons. The Anta KT9 sneaker, the latest to be released, has personalized bulldog etching throughout the uppers, showcasing Rocco’s face, name and his favorite playthings.
Rocco was the rumored reason for Abigail Ratchford and Klay Thompson’s breakup
Klay Thompson and Abigail Ratchford had dated each other during the Warriors’ championship heyday, as per the New York Post. Although the two never confirmed the relationship, Ratchford posted media with Rocco and other Thompson stuff on Instagram.
The Instagram bombshell, who boasts nearly 8 million followers, posted a snap of the then-Warriors star’s dog, Rocco, in addition to a picture of basketballs on a countertop.
“That was the best I’ve slept in a year,” Ratchford shared.
However, there was added media scrutiny on both of them due to Ratchford’s more public posts.
“My manager was right that I shouldn’t put [my relationship] out there. … It’s never a good business move,” Ratchford told The Post about broadcasting her personal life. “You kind of have to pretend you’re single, just so [your fans] can have the fantasy of having a chance with you.”
The two reportedly split in mid-2017, and this was made clear in a rather blunt fashion by Thompson a few months later in an interview with 95.7 The Game:
He’s great. Living the life. About to take him to the park later — get some sun, have some fun. With Rocco? Oh, no no no no no. [I’m] just being good. I’m just trying to find a wholesome lady out there. That’d be nice.
Since then, Thompson hasn’t really been spotted in public with any woman, despite him being a major celebrity around the Bay Area. It seems that Thompson clearly prefers not having any publicity around his personal life. At least, anything that doesn’t involve his boat or his now-deceased dog.
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