Julie Thompson Taught Her Kids Proper Exercise Techniques – Facts about Klay Thompson’s Mother

Julie Thompson displayed remarkable athleticism in her youth, and while her loved ones, including her sons, can attest, the mom of three is quite modest. She relayed much of her expertise to her sons, all of whom inherited her love for sports, teaching them how to win and stay healthy.

Julie Thompson’s competitive spirit saw her soar through several sports as a youth, and that spirit remained even when she became a mom. Through her dedication to bettering her children’s athletic skills, her boys — now grown men — learned significant life lessons they continue to uphold.

Julie’s most well-known son is NBA star Klay Thomson, whose career speaks for itself. The spotlight that shines upon Klay has pooled around the rest of his family, but his mother has shied away from it. Regardless, her loved ones, including Klay, have appeared for interviews and shed some light on how she taught her kids to be excellent athletes.

Julie was one of three siblings, growing up in Richfield, Washington, alongside two brothers who excelled in sports. Her brother, John Leslie, was a basketball center and linebacker when he attended Occidental College. The two remained integral to each other’s lives, as John helped his sister with her kids when her husband was away for work.

Julie began with gymnastics but later moved on to play volleyball as a high school sophomore. Additionally, she also played track and field, but she focused primarily on volleyball. Her success in the sport earned her scholarship offers from Oregon State University and the University of the Pacific.

She chose to attend the University of Portland, where she helped the school’s volleyball team win conference championships two years in a row. Her old coach Steve Pickering credited the victories to her contribution, saying she was a “big part” of them. Laurie Corbelli, who coached her during her senior season, said:

“What a fluid and graceful athlete!”

Her husband, Mychal Thompson, shared the same sentiment, noting, “She was good enough to play on Team USA. She could really play.” In response, she said he was being “ridiculous.” And while so many people sang her praises, Julie was not one to brag. She didn’t like talking about her athletic career.

Moreover, their kids wouldn’t have known about it if it weren’t for Mychal. Julie’s spouse also succeeded as an athlete, but her son, Klay, joked he only inherited height from Mychal. Klay, whose dating history includes Hannah Stocking, particularly thought he and his brothers had Julie’s athleticism.

Mychal was playing a pickup basketball game when he caught sight of Julie. “I saw her out of the corner of my eye. I forgot about the game,” he recalled. They both attended the University of Portland before Julie transferred to the University of San Fransisco, where she graduated with an Accounting degree.

She and Mychal married in 1987. A year later, in June, the couple welcomed their eldest, Mychel Thompson. Klay followed in 1990, and his parents completed their family with Trayce Thompson in 1991. Mychel once thought his parents always knew they would have athletic kids.

Even his dad joked about it once, with Julie recalling him saying, “Hey, we would have an All-American.” She simply rolled her eyes. The family of five stayed in Portland before relocating to the south of Orange County when their sons were teenagers. They then established the Thomspon Family Foundation.

Now and then, Julie would challenge young Klay to a race on the family driveway, and she wasn’t easy on him. She never let him win; he only beat her fair and square once he was 14. Mychal approved of his wife’s approach because he thought it taught his sons that life wasn’t always fair.

He would watch her teach them about running and stretching and how to do exercises like yoga and Pilates. Julie also advised Klay to read a newspaper before his games, and it’s become a ritual for the Golden State Warrior. He and Mychel loved basketball, but their baby brother preferred baseball.

The three were quite a handful growing up, as their uncle, John, remembered they were “bouncing off the walls.” Klay grew up to be a hermit like his mom, though. He has trusted Julie, whose only wish for her kids is happiness, with his style and outfits.