Klay Thompson Takes Public Responsibility for Mistake

Klay Thompson often looked like a man among boys when he played basketball at Santa Margarita Catholic High, and on Saturday before his college team played, Thompson did the manly thing.

He apologized.

Personally.

Instead of apologizing for his arrest for alleged marijuana possession into a bunch of microphones in a locker room or releasing a printed statement while in hiding, Thompson took the public address microphone before Washington State played its game against UCLA and addressed the crowd. 

"I made a mistake," Thompson said before the game in which he was suspended by the team. "I had bad judgment and would do anything to be out there today."

Washington State was beaten in overtime, 58-54.

Thompson, 21, a 6-foot-6 junior guard from Ladera Ranch, was arrested on Thursday during a traffic stop after his team defeated USC. He allegedly had 1.95 grams of marijuana in his possession.

According to Scout.com, former Lakers player and current broadcaster Mychal Thompson—Klay's father—during a radio show on ESPN 700 told listeners, "I can't believe how disappointed I am in my son."

Thompson also relayed what he told his son on Friday: "They've got a huge game tomorrow against UCLA, you're trying to get into the NCAA tournament and win te Pac-10 tournament and this is what you do? You let your coaches down. You let your student body down. You let the school down. You let everybody down."

Thompson is the leading scorer in the conference. He had considered forgoing his senior season for the NBA. But Dad had a thought about that, too, saying his son clearly was "not ready" for the pros.

But stepping up to the microphone was a big step in the right direction.