Klay Thompson shocked the world this summer when he left the Warriors behind to pursue a new path with the Dallas Mavericks. While the Lakers were looming as an option for Klay, one former NBA player says he didn’t go there to avoid a chaotic situation.
“Why didn’t Klay Thompson pick the Lakers?” said McCants. “Why didn’t he even consider them? I’ll ask him, but I don’t have to. I know the answer. I know the answer: I’m cool on that circus over there. I’m cool.”
After 11 years with the Golden State Warriors, Klay Thompson made the difficult decision to leave this summer. Despite his rich history with Stephen Curry and the crew, he felt left out and abandoned after his struggles on the court forced the Warriors to bench him down the stretch. As his role continued to reduce, contract negotiations were falling apart behind the scenes and it led to a breakup that nobody saw coming.
Ultimately, the Mavericks won the Klay Thompson sweepstakes and their recruitment efforts were no doubt convincing. However, they were not the only team in pursuit of the 4x champion. The Los Angeles Lakers were in the running as well and reports indicate that they were even willing to overpay him to assure his arrival.
Only Thompson knows why he chose the Mavericks over teaming up with LeBron James and Anthony Davis but there are several reasons why Klay would reject a life with the Lakers. Because they lost early in the 2024 playoffs, it’s possible that Thompson doesn’t see them as a legitimate contender.
Or, as McCants suggests, maybe he wasn’t keen on the pressure that comes with wearing the Purple and Gold. The Lakers, more so than most teams, have an expectation to be competitive every single season. Any sign of struggle during the season leads to panic both inside and outside the organization.
If Klay himself failed to meet expectations, he’d have become the center of blame and ridicule for the fans just like what happened with Russell Westbrook and head coach Darvin Ham.
Of course, there’s also the LeBron James factor. Playing with the King can be very rewarding but the degree of control he has over the Lakers right now can be jarring for those who have never seen it. He is at the center of every move they make and the drafting of Bronny James has tied them together for at least the next few years.
As a star shooting guard for the Warriors, Klay knows what it’s like to play for a popular, high-market city and he knows how wild things can get when plans fall apart. But after such a miserable season with the Warriors, Thompson didn’t want to endure the same chaotic process he experienced in San Francisco.
Instead, he opted for something totally new with a team where he could feel free to be himself, play his game, and connect with his teammates on a personal level. The Mavericks haven’t won a championship since 2011 but after a run to the Finals, there is a sense of excitement in the city that they could achieve something special. For better or worse, Thompson is a part of it now and he has no regrets over the choices that got him there.
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