Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson is mourning the loss of his treasured English bulldog, Rocco, who passed away after 13 years by his side.
Thompson expressed his grief and paid tribute to Rocco in a social media post on Friday, reflecting on their shared moments and sending him well wishes in the afterlife.
“I`m going to miss Rocco deeply, 13 wonderful years with my best friend,” Thompson wrote. “I know he`s chasing someone`s ball in doggy heaven. He was a true dynasty dog. Thank you for all the kind messages! All dogs truly go to Heaven!”
Rocco gained recognition during Thompson`s successful tenure as part of the Golden State Warriors` dominant “Splash Brothers” duo, becoming a fan favorite known as the All-Star guard`s loyal friend.
In a 2019 interview with GQ Sports, Thompson notably listed the bulldog as his top essential item.
“He`s a loyal companion,” Thompson remarked. “And since he`s the first pet I`ve ever owned, Rocco, you will always hold a special spot in my heart, buddy.”
Rocco even maintained his own presence on Instagram, featuring photos of himself and Thompson, amassing a following of over 60,000 admirers.
Tributes to Rocco were shared in the comments section of Thompson`s post by several figures, including Mavericks center Dereck Lively II, Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Enrique Hernandez, and rapper G-Eazy. The Golden State Warriors team also honored Rocco with their own social media message.
