During what was expected to be a light-hearted, off-season social media segment involving various NBA stars, the Dallas Mavericks’ newly-acquired shooting guard Klay Thompson stole the spotlight with a savage and hilarious remark aimed at hip-hop star Megan Thee Stallion. The situation, which took place during a filmed personality test onboard a luxury yacht during a promotional cruise for a sports brand, unexpectedly spiraled into a trending cultural moment when Thompson was asked a “boat sinking scenario” question — one that was supposed to test how celebrities make quick moral or emotional decisions.
The rules of the game were fairly simple. Each player had to hypothetically choose one person to save between two randomly selected celebrities, with no context provided beyond their names. Thompson was given an especially high-profile pairing: Megan Thee Stallion and Saweetie. With a sly grin, the NBA sharpshooter took only a few seconds before dropping a remark that instantly sent shockwaves across social media platforms. “Look, man,” he said, cracking his signature smirk, “if the boat’s sinking and I got one life jacket, Saweetie gets it. Megan’s got knees of steel — she’ll be fine kicking her way to shore.”
The entire yacht erupted in laughter, from the camera crew to fellow NBA players and influencers on board. But it was Klay’s impeccable comic timing, paired with his unapologetically dry delivery, that elevated the moment from a mere joke to viral gold. The internet wasted no time reacting. Clips of Thompson’s jab circulated across Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok in a matter of hours, quickly racking up millions of views. The phrase “knees of steel” trended for over 24 hours, spawning memes, GIFs, and remixed soundbites layered over videos of Megan’s legendary dance performances.
For context, Megan Thee Stallion’s knees have been widely praised — and even meme-ified — thanks to her acrobatic stage presence and twerk-heavy choreography, often performed in heels for hours at a time. She’s even dubbed herself “the hot girl with the strong knees,” leaning into the joke over the years and turning it into a brand identity. So for Klay Thompson to reference it in such a tongue-in-cheek fashion was considered both a deep-cut compliment and a roast with remarkable comedic precision.
However, not everyone saw it that way. As the viral moment reached a broader audience, some fans took to X (formerly Twitter) to call out Thompson for “playing favorites” or reducing two talented women to a punchline. Critics argued that the joke, though seemingly lighthearted, fed into a broader culture of pitting women against each other, especially in the entertainment industry. A few even accused Thompson of being dismissive, though his defenders were quick to point out that the segment was designed to elicit humorous responses and that both women were chosen due to their high profiles and internet popularity.
Despite the mixed reactions, Megan Thee Stallion herself finally weighed in two days later via a short Instagram story clip, re-sharing the viral video along with a laughing emoji and the caption: “Them knees gon’ carry me regardless .” Her response effectively ended any serious backlash and reaffirmed her own playful relationship with her internet persona. Fans applauded her grace, with many praising her ability to lean into the joke and diffuse unnecessary tension without compromising her image.
Meanwhile, Saweetie — the other half of the hypothetical dilemma — remained silent on the matter, choosing instead to post vacation pictures from Ibiza, leaving fans to speculate whether she found the moment amusing or simply preferred to stay out of the spotlight on this one.
For Thompson, this moment marks yet another surprising chapter in his post-Warriors career. After signing with the Mavericks during free agency, many expected the former Splash Brother to stay low-key and focus on fitting into Dallas’s evolving offensive system alongside Luka Dončić and Dereck Lively II. But in a twist befitting his quirky, often meme-worthy personality, Klay has managed to make headlines before even playing a regular-season game in a Mavericks jersey. This comedic side of Thompson has been well-documented — from his offbeat press conferences to his legendary Instagram Lives with his dog Rocco, he’s long cultivated an endearing reputation as one of the NBA’s most unintentionally hilarious players.
The Mavericks organization itself appeared to be enjoying the moment, even posting the clip on its official account with the caption, “Our guy Klay starting the season off with elite decision-making.” The post further cemented the organization’s embrace of Thompson’s personality, recognizing that having a star with not only championship pedigree but also a viral sense of humor could be a great boost for team morale and fan engagement.
Yet beyond the laughs and trending hashtags, the moment also sparked broader conversations about how athletes interact with pop culture and celebrity personas. The NBA has increasingly leaned into the entertainment aspect of its players, knowing that viral moments help drive engagement in an increasingly digital world. For players like Klay Thompson, who may be entering the twilight years of their careers, such moments can help maintain relevance while also introducing their brands to newer, younger fans who might not have seen him dominate the league alongside Steph Curry in the mid-2010s.
From a marketing perspective, the viral moment was also a home run for the sports brand behind the yacht segment. Their campaign was initially intended to showcase off-court personalities and promote new apparel releases, but the unexpected viral nature of Thompson’s joke gave them far more exposure than any traditional ad could have bought. In fact, within 72 hours of the clip going viral, the brand’s social media engagement tripled, and online sales reportedly spiked — particularly for merchandise linked to the Mavericks and Klay Thompson.
The timing of the viral moment couldn’t have been better for Thompson either. Heading into the 2025-26 season, questions had surrounded his physical health and ability to still contribute at a high level following several injury setbacks in past years. While none of this changes his basketball performance, it certainly helps reframe the narrative around him from aging star to beloved personality. And in today’s NBA, that’s a form of value that teams are increasingly aware of.
As training camp nears, Klay will inevitably return to the court, but his “knees of steel” comment will likely follow him well into the season. Fans have already begun printing shirts, making parody videos, and even requesting bobbleheads commemorating the now-iconic yacht moment. What started as a split-second joke has evolved into a viral cultural artifact — one that bridges sports, music, and comedy all at once.
In the ever-blending worlds of NBA stardom and pop culture, Klay Thompson reminded everyone that timing — whether behind the three-point line or in the middle of a punchline — is everything. And with one perfectly delivered roast, he ensured that, no matter what happens on the court this season, people will be talking about Klay in Dallas for a long time to come.
