Just over two years ago, Klay Thompson was on the mend from a torn achilles tear that arrived on the heels of a 2019 ACL tear. Yet, despite this string of unfortunate injuries, Thompson was still considered one of the NBA's best shooting guards, and an integral part of the Golden State Warriors dynasty's imagined dominant future.
Now, Thompson is not only coming off the bench for the Warriors after a sub-par season, but his once-assured future with the team seems to be in doubt after this 2024 season concludes.
According to an article from The Athletic's Sam Amick, Thompson and the Warriors ownership have been experiencing a falling out, ever since Thompson elected to decline a two-year, $48 million contract extension that was offered to him at the beginning of this season.
While Thompson had an excellent relationship with former Warriors General Manager Bob Myers, Myers decided to step away from the team in late June 2023 — and his absence has created a "communication gap" between Thompson and Warriors owner Joe Lacob.
"It's clear their relationship has suffered some strain along the way, with league sources indicating that Thompson has received no assurances from on high that his hopes of retiring happily in a Warriors jersey someday will be a shared priority this summer," Amick wrote.
"Both sides, it seems clear, have no clarity about what might happen when that time rolls around."
Ever since the Warriors dynasty kickstarted with their first NBA championship in 2015, the team's core of Thompson, Steph Curry, and Draymond Green have all expressed their desires to remain on Golden State for their entire careers.
In fact, Curry was asked about Thompson's free agency during the NBA All-Star Weekend, and said he still believes Thompson will resign — and ultimately retire — with the Warriors.
"A hundred percent," Curry told ESPN's Malika Andrews when asked about Thompson potentially retiring with the Warriors. "I think that's always been a motivator for us, and I think the way that we talk about it is we not only want to end our career as a Warrior, continue to compete at a high level, but you want to end it the right way."
While ending it the right way would be great for Golden State, they need to maximize the time they've still got left with Curry — and it remains to be seen whether Thompson should be part of that time.
