Dub Nation continues to mourn the loss of Klay’s beloved pup.
I know there’s been a ton of pieces on the passing on Klay Thompson’s dog Rocco. I feel like I need to personally pay respects as I’ve been graced by the love from Rocco myself.
There’s something profoundly heartbreaking about watching a warrior say goodbye to his most faithful companion. When Klay posted that Instagram tribute to his beloved English bulldog Rocco on Friday, it felt like more than just a pet obituary—it was the end of an era that spanned championships, injuries, and the kind of unconditional loyalty that only a dog can provide.
“I’m gonna miss Rocco a lot, 13 glorious years with my boy,” Thompson wrote, his words carrying the weight of someone who understood that some bonds transcend basketball. “I know he’s in doggy heaven poppin somebody’s ball. A great dynasty dog he was.”
A great dynasty dog he was.
Those five words tell you everything about what Rocco meant to Thompson and, by extension, to all of us who fell in love with this unlikely duo. Because make no mistake—Rocco wasn’t just Klay’s dog. He became Dub Nation’s mascot in the most organic way possible, a wrinkled ambassador of loyalty who somehow embodied everything we loved about those championship years.
I still remember creating an animation back in 2021 capturing Klay sitting thoughtfully on an empty BART train during his achilles recovery, Rocco curled up beside him like a furry therapist. There was something so beautifully melancholic about that image—the sharpshooter who had given everything to this franchise, now riding public transportation with his best friend, both of them probably wondering when they’d feel whole again.
Growing up around my father’s kennel, I learned early that dogs don’t just become pets—they become family members with their own personalities, quirks, and irreplaceable roles in our daily narratives. Rocco was Thompson’s North Star during the darkest period of his career, a constant when everything else felt uncertain.
What made Rocco special wasn’t just his 60,000 Instagram followers or his cameos during Thompson’s championship runs. It was the way he represented something deeper about Klay’s character. In a league obsessed with flash and social media personas, Thompson chose to spotlight his English bulldog as his “No. 1 essential” in that 2019 GQ interview. “He’s a loyal steed,” Klay said then. “And he’s the first pet I’ve ever owned, so Rocco you’ll forever hold a special place in my heart buddy.”
Loyal steed. Even Thompson’s metaphors for his dog carried basketball undertones—the steady, dependable presence that could carry you through any battle.
The timing of Rocco’s passing feels almost cinematic in its cruel poetry. Thompson’s first season in Dallas has been a journey of redefinition, learning to be something other than a Splash Brother for the first time in his professional life. Now he’s navigating that transition without his most faithful companion, the one who witnessed every iteration of Klay Thompson; from dynasty cornerstone to injured veteran to Mavericks mercenary.
But here’s what Dallas fans need to understand about what they inherited: Klay Thompson’s capacity for loyalty runs deeper than basketball. A man who spent 13 years loving an English bulldog with that kind of devotion doesn’t just flip switches when he changes uniforms. The same heart that mourned Rocco on Instagram is the same heart that bled Warriors blue for over a decade.
For Dub Nation, watching Klay grieve Rocco from afar adds another layer to an already complex emotional relationship. We love him for what he gave us, respect him for choosing his own path, and now we ache for him as he processes this most personal loss. Because some connections transcend team loyalty. Our connection to Klay, mediated through our shared affection for that wrinkled little bulldog, remains unbreakable.
The fact that Rocco’s Instagram page actually liked my BART video still gives me chills. In retrospect, it feels like a blessing from the dynasty dog himself. An approval from the one who knew Klay best during those quiet moments between the chaos.
Rocco witnessed four championships, two devastating injuries, countless practices, and probably more Netflix binges than any dog should reasonably endure. He was there for the celebrations and the rehabilitation, the media obligations and the private moments of doubt. He was, in every sense that matters, a dynasty dog.
Now he’s gone, and Klay must navigate the rest of his basketball journey without his most loyal teammate. But if Rocco taught us anything during his 13 years in the spotlight, it’s that the best relationships aren’t measured in duration. They’re measured in devotion.
Rest in peace, Rocco Thompson. Thank you for showing us that even warriors need someone to love unconditionally. Dub Nation will never forget you, buddy.