Klay Thompson’s departure from the Golden State Warriors, an organization where he has spent his entire illustrious career, is tinged with understandable but not necessarily justified resentment. As a crucial component of one of the most successful NBA dynasties, Thompson often found himself overshadowed by teammates with more distinct roles: Stephen Curry as the best player, Draymond Green as the premier defender, and Kevin Durant as the high-profile addition. Even head coach Steve Kerr and role player Andre Iguodala often garnered more attention for their contributions to the team’s success.
Despite being arguably the second-greatest shooter in NBA history, Thompson was never the best shooter on his own team. He was a stellar defender but not the best defender among his peers. This reality, coupled with the decline in his game, understandably bruised his ego, especially as he saw other teammates like Jordan Poole and Draymond Green receive substantial contract extensions while he reportedly turned down a two-year, $48 million offer last summer.
Now, Thompson is set to join the Dallas Mavericks on a three-year, $50 million deal, which is notably less on an annual basis than the offer he declined from the Warriors. The situation echoes a poignant moment from the movie Moneyball, where the significance of a record-breaking deal isn’t about the money itself but what it symbolizes: “That you’re worth it.” The Warriors’ actions over the past two years suggested to Thompson that they no longer saw him as worth it. They removed him from the closing lineup, then from the starting lineup, and ultimately retracted their contract offer.
Thompson’s move to Dallas, fueled by a desire to prove the Warriors wrong, may benefit the Mavericks. Despite not being the player he once was, Thompson still averaged 19 points per game last season with a 39% 3-point shooting rate. His off-ball movement and shooting will complement Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, adding significant value to the Mavericks’ offense.
The Warriors, however, did right by Thompson for as long as they could. They offered him a $189 million contract after his ACL injury in the 2019 Finals and paid him over $70 million during a two-year period when he didn’t play a single game. Thompson earned every bit of that support, and his contributions to the Warriors will never be forgotten. His No. 11 jersey will undoubtedly hang in the rafters, cementing his legacy with the franchise.
In the end, the Warriors’ decision to part ways with Klay Thompson’s was driven by the need to build the best possible team around their greatest player, Stephen Curry, who continues to perform at a superstar level. Balancing this goal with the financial and role commitments that Thompson desired was not feasible. Thompson’s departure is a common narrative in the business of basketball, where even Hall of Famers can feel slighted. Yet, his status as a Warriors legend remains unblemished, and his contributions will forever be valued by those who understand the game.
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