Klay Thompson’s Warriors breakup and arrival to Mavericks, explained

Klay Thompson was the soul. golden state warriors'dynasty. Thompson was one of the best shooters in NBA history by any measure, and at his peak he was a devastating perimeter defender who helped make Golden State's defense as formidable as its offense. Flanked by legendary Stephen Curry and defensive great Draymond Green, Thompson helped the Warriors win four NBA championships.

And Golden State let him hit free agency this summer without much of a fuss.

Thompson is currently dallas mavericks. On Tuesday, the veteran shooting guard will return to the Bay Area for the first time as a member of an opposing team. It's expected to be an emotional night for Thompson and his former Warriors teammates, but the bad blood between the veteran star and the organization remains evident.

Anyone who followed the Warriors last season could sense that a divorce with Thompson was imminent. Head coach Steve Kerr briefly benched Thompson and eventually restored him to the starting role, but it was clear the organization was prioritizing young talent around Curry and Green.

The Warriors made sure Curry and Green got new contracts when they extended their contracts. Golden State also made an offer to Thompson long before he became a free agent, but it wasn't the same nine-figure contract that Curry and Green received. Approaching his 35th birthday, Thompson left the Bay for the first time in his pro career and is now playing for a Mavericks team that could push the Warriors into the playoffs.

What led to Thompson parting ways with the Warriors? How deep does the bad blood run? Let's take a look at how and why Thompson left Golden State.

Klay Thompson's back-to-back foot injuries changed his career forever

The Golden State Warriors entered the 2019 NBA Finals and looked poised to complete a three-peat. Then Kevin Durant tore his Achilles tendon in Game 5, and Thompson tore his ACL in Game 6. toronto raptors They won the series, clinched their first-ever NBA championship, and put the Warriors in a tight spot.

That summer, Durant left the Warriors as a free agent and signed with the Brooklyn Nets. Thompson will miss the entire 2019-2020 season as he rehabilitates a torn ACL. Thompson, who was preparing to return for the 2020-2021 season, suffered a torn Achilles tendon during training. He will again miss the entire season. The Warriors paid him a total of $68 million over two seasons, despite playing zero games.

After Thompson left, younger teammates began to emerge.

Warriors win 2022 championship with Thompson in key role

Once Thompson returned, the Warriors started to look like Warriors again. Thompson will return on January 9, 2022 and will start 32 games for the rest of the year. The Warriors won 53 games on the season and advanced to the playoffs as the third seed in the West.

The Warriors will advance to the 2022 NBA Finals. boston celtics Win the dynasty's fourth ring in six games. Thompson made 35.1 percent of his 57 3-point attempts while playing over 38 minutes per game in the NBA Finals.

Thompson's return was an amazing story, but it's clear he's still not the same player he was before his injury, and likely never will be again. The Warriors won the title largely because of Curry's talent, but they also got important contributions from Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole, two players the team prioritizes re-signing over Thompson.

Wiggins and Poole get paid and Green punches Poole.

After the championship, the Warriors decided to re-sign Wiggins and Poole, while Green and Thompson waited for extensions. Wiggins signed a four-year contract worth $109 million. Poole signed a four-year deal worth $140 million. Green and Thompson were reportedly unhappy that the team gave contracts to young players but not to the cornerstone stars who are second only to Curry and have won four titles. .

At training camp, as the Warriors were about to begin their title defense, Green punched Poole in the face. Golden State won only 44 games and was eliminated in the second round of the playoffs.

Green signed a $100 million contract the following summer. Poole was acquired in the Chris Paul trade. Meanwhile, Thompson entered the final year of his contract without an extension.

Warriors offer contract to Klay Thompson

warriors It has been reported that Thompson has been offered a two-year, $48 million contract extension.. The offer was reportedly not put on hold as Thompson's play began to slip and the team continued to prioritize younger players.

The Warriors never hit their stride in the 2023-2024 season. The team won 46 games, but was eliminated in the play-in tournament and did not advance to the playoffs. Anyone paying attention can see that Thompson is miserable.

Klay Thompson's 'disastrous' final season with Warriors

Thompson gave fans a rare look into the psychology of an elite athlete who is falling from his peak during the 2023-24 season. Although he was often combative with the media, he was always honest about how he felt about his diminished role within the team. Thompson's first press conference of the season was in late November, where he asked doubters:

Thompson was ultimately benched by head coach Steve Kerr in February in favor of rookie Brandin Podzemski. He would regain his starting spot later in the season, but his dissatisfaction was clear at that point.

Thompson made headlines in February when he gave another interview in the locker room. You can hear the pain in his voice.

Thompson's last game with the Warriors was a brick fest. The Warriors were 0-for-10 from the field as they were eliminated by the Sacramento Kings in the play-in tournament.

After the game, Thompson soaked in what would be the last time he would wear a Golden State uniform.

Thompson asked Curry not to influence Warriors' free agency decisions

Thompson's agent made a final offer to the Warriors. He is reportedly offering a two-year, $40 million contract.. At the time, Golden State was busy pursuing Paul George and possibly Lauri Markkanen.

thompson Reportedly asked Curry not to influence Warriors' free agency decisions.

The divorce was a multi-layered five-year journey that broke down last season, had early buds, and was finalized in recent weeks. According to league sources, the following request was made during the conversation with Thompson: steph curry This is to heighten the differences between him and management in order to ensure Thompson's return without having a significant influence on the organization. Curry's voice of caution, even if it changes the outcome, will not change Joe Lacob's integrity and the front office's true desire to bring Thompson back.

The franchise will let him walk.

Klay Thompson signs with Mavericks

At the end of his time with the Warriors, Thompson became a free agent for the first time at age 34. he was interested in it lakersThunder, Mavericks. Lakers reportedly considering offer of $80 millionBut that was up to the Warriors or a third team to acquire D'Angelo Russell.

thompson He signed a three-year, $50 million contract with the Mavericks.. The Mavericks were heading to the NBA Finals, and Thompson was interested in the opportunity to play with former USA teammates Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic.

Thompson spoke about what the opportunity in Dallas means to him during his induction press conference.

Thompson returns to Bay

Thompson is off to a strong start this year with the Mavericks. He is averaging 13.8 points per game and shooting 35.4 percent from 3-point range. He plays 30 minutes per game and has started every game thus far.

It certainly feels weird to see Klay return to the Bay wearing a different uniform.

Thompson will forever be remembered as a Warrior. Now he's trying to write the perfect chapter in his career with the Mavericks, a new contender in the West.