Klay Thompson was recovering from a torn achilles that followed an ACL tear, marking a challenging time over two years ago. Despite his injuries, Thompson was considered a top NBA shooting guard and a key player in the Golden State Warriors’ bright future.
Now, Thompson finds himself coming off the bench for the Warriors following a below-average season, raising uncertainty about his future with the team after the 2024 season.
As per an article by The Athletic‘s Sam Amick, a rift has developed between Thompson and the Warriors ownership. This discord started when Thompson declined a $48 million contract extension offered to him at the beginning of the current season.
Thompson had a good rapport with former Warriors General Manager Bob Myers, who left the team in late June 2023. Since Myers’ departure, a “communication gap” has emerged between Thompson and Warriors owner Joe Lacob.
According to Amick, their relationship has strained, with Thompson receiving no assurances from higher-ups regarding his desire to retire as a Warrior. Both parties seem uncertain about the future.
Since the Warriors’ championship win in 2015, Thompson, Steph Curry, and Draymond Green expressed their wish to spend their entire careers with the team.
During the NBA All-Star Weekend, Curry was questioned about Thompson’s free agency and expressed belief that Thompson will re-sign and retire as a Warrior.
“A hundred percent,” Curry told ESPN’s Malika Andrews regarding Thompson’s potential retirement with the team. “I think that’s always been a motivator for us… you want to end it the right way.”
While it would be ideal for Golden State to end on a high, they must make the most of their remaining time with Curry, raising the question of Thompson’s role moving forward.
