Klay Thompson, Kevin Love go from Little League to NBA Finals

LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love Press Conference Win vs. Raptors | 2016 NBA Playoffs

Photo: Photo Courtesy Of Jen Beyrle

As childhood friends in Oregon, Klay Thompson (bottom left) and Kevin Love (back row, third from left) played together on the Lake Oswego Lakers" Little League All-Star team in 2001.

As childhood friends in Oregon, Klay Thompson (bottom left) and Kevin Love (back row, third from left) played together on the Lake Oswego Lakers" Little League All-Star team in 2001.

Photo: Photo Courtesy Of Jen Beyrle Klay Thompson (11) drives around a defeding Kevin Love (0) in the second half as the Golden State Warriors played the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena in Oakland on June 2, 2016. The Warriors defeated the Cavaliers 104-89. less Klay Thompson (11) drives around a defeding Kevin Love (0) in the second half as the Golden State Warriors played the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena in Oakland on June 2, 2016. ... more Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

Golden State Warriors" Klay Thompson shoots over Cleveland Cavaliers" Kevin Love in the third quarter during Game 1 of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena on Thursday, June 2, 2016 in Oakland.

Golden State Warriors" Klay Thompson shoots over Cleveland Cavaliers" Kevin Love in the third quarter during Game 1 of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena on Thursday, June 2, 2016 in Oakland.

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle Kevin Love (0) runs into the Warriors defense lead by Draymond Green (23) in the second half as the Golden State Warriors played the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena in Oakland on June 2, 2016. The Warriors defeated the Cavaliers 104-89. less Kevin Love (0) runs into the Warriors defense lead by Draymond Green (23) in the second half as the Golden State Warriors played the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena in Oakland on ... more Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle Klay Thompson (11) shoots a three-point shot in the first half as the Golden State Warriors played the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Okla., on Saturday, May 28, 2016. less Klay Thompson (11) shoots a three-point shot in the first half as the Golden State Warriors played the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma ... more Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

Golden State Warriors" Klay Thompson stops Cleveland Cavaliers" LeBron James from scoring in 3rd quarter of Game 1 of NBA Finals at Oracle Arena in Oakland on June 2, 2016.

Golden State Warriors" Klay Thompson stops Cleveland Cavaliers" LeBron James from scoring in 3rd quarter of Game 1 of NBA Finals at Oracle Arena in Oakland on June 2, 2016.

Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle Warriors" Andrew Bogut, (12) gives a pat on the head to his teammate Klay Thompson, (11) after he made a three pointer late in the fourth quarter, as the Golden State Warriors went on to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in game 1of the NBA Championship 104-89 at Oracle Arena in Oakland on June 3, 2016. less Warriors" Andrew Bogut, (12) gives a pat on the head to his teammate Klay Thompson, (11) after he made a three pointer late in the fourth quarter, as the Golden State Warriors went on to beat the Cleveland ... more Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle Kevin Love (0) shoots over Festus Ezeli (31) in the second half as the Golden State Warriors played the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena in Oakland on June 2, 2016. The Warriors defeated the Cavaliers 104-89. less Kevin Love (0) shoots over Festus Ezeli (31) in the second half as the Golden State Warriors played the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena in Oakland on June 2, 2016. The Warriors ... more Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

Cleveland Cavaliers" Kevin Love is guarded by Golden State Warriors" Klay Thompson and Draymond Green in the third quarter during Game 1 of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena on June 2, 2016 in Oakland.

Cleveland Cavaliers" Kevin Love is guarded by Golden State Warriors" Klay Thompson and Draymond Green in the third quarter during Game 1 of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena on June 2, 2016 in Oakland.

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

Golden State Warriors" Klay Thompson scores over Cleveland Cavaliers" J.R. Smith (5) and Kevin Love in 2nd quarter during NBA game at Oracle Arena in Oakland on Friday, January 9, 2015.

Golden State Warriors" Klay Thompson scores over Cleveland Cavaliers" J.R. Smith (5) and Kevin Love in 2nd quarter during NBA game at Oracle Arena in Oakland on Friday, January 9, 2015.

Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle

Klay Thompson, Kevin Love go from Little League to NBA Finals

The intertwining paths of Klay Thompson and Kevin Love trace back to a baseball field in a Portland, Ore., suburb.

Long before the NBA All-Stars faced each other on their current sports biggest stage, they shared a Little League team. Thompson was the speedy leadoff hitter, Love the hard-throwing pitcher. Even then, while playing a sport that wont figure in their legacy, the preteens recognized in one another the potential for greatness.

Klay always had a quiet confidence about him, Love said Saturday before his Cavaliers practiced for Game 2 of the NBA Finals. There was something about Klay that separated him from the rest of the group.

Said Thompson of Love: He was a phenom as a kid. To be on the world stage with him, its really cool. Its something I dont take for granted.

Fifteen years ago, a group of parents in Lake Oswego, Ore., hatched a plan: They would pool the best local kids for an All-Star team capable of reaching the Little League World Series. The centerpieces were a husky sixth-grader named Kevin and a soft-spoken fifth-grader named Klay.

Standing almost 6 feet, Love overpowered his peers. He whizzed fastballs past befuddled batters when he wasnt crushing home runs. As a smooth-hitting shortstop, the rail-thin Thompsons game was more finesse than dominance.

It was this potent tandem that powered the Lake Oswego Lakers to the 2001 state title before they narrowly missed a berth in the Little League World Series. Three years later, at the urging of his former-NBA-player father, Stan, Love quit baseball to focus on basketball. Around the same time, Thompson, whose dad also played in the NBA, moved with his family to Orange County.

The two childhood friends blossomed into high school basketball standouts. In summer 2005, at an AAU tournament in Portland, Love watched Thompson wow crowds with his silky jumper and advanced ballhandling.

I knew he was good, Love said. I didnt know he was that good.

By the time he graduated from Lake Oswego High School, Love had solidified his status as one of the greatest high school players in Oregon history. His 2,628 career points were a state record. In each of his final three seasons, Love guided the Lakers to the state championship game. He was named the Gatorade National Male Athlete of the Year after averaging 33.9 points and 17 rebounds per game as a senior.

Love cant help but wonder how great those Lake Oswego squads could have been had his former Little League teammate not moved. Surely South Medford High, led by future NBA player Kyle Singler, wouldnt have beaten Lake Oswego in the state championship Loves senior year.

We couldve done a lot of damage, Love said.

Two summers ago, after six seasons in Minnesota without a playoff appearance, Love was desperate for a fresh start. The Timberwolves offered the Warriors a trade they figured would suit all parties: Thompson and David Lee for Love and Kevin Martins toxic contract.

But Golden State wasnt willing to part with Thompson, who had quickly emerged as one of the NBAs top shooters. It stands as one of the most important non-moves in franchise history. Thanks largely to the Splash Brothers Thompson and Stephen Curry the Warriors are three wins from their second straight NBA title.

Love, who missed the Finals last year with a dislocated shoulder, poses a major frontcourt challenge. Lost in Clevelands underwhelming Game 1 performance was yet another double-double (17 points, 13 rebounds) from the big man.

More than a decade ago, on a Little League diamond in Lake Oswego, Thompson could have never predicted this. All he understood at that time was Love was destined for greatness.

Everyone knew he was special, Thompson said.

Connor Letourneau is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cletourneau@sfchronicle.com Twitter: Con_Chron

Source: http://www.sfgate.com/warriors/article/Klay-Thompson-and-Kevin-Love-go-from-Little-7963918.php