There has been a lot of negativity surrounding Klay Thompson this season, as the five-time All-Star has struggled a fair bit on the court. Staying positive through all of it wouldn’t be easy, but Thompson revealed how a conversation with Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has left him in a much better place mentally.
“Steve and I had actually a great conversation yesterday and that helped me relax a lot,” Thompson said. “Sometimes I forget just how successful and how lucky I’ve been to be a part of the championship teams and All-Star games and gold medals. You want to get back to that level so badly, you can kind of get in your own way.”
With a clearer mind, Thompson had a solid outing in Tuesday’s 121-115 win over the Orlando Magic. He finished with 15 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block in the contest while going 6-11 from the field. The 33-year-old revealed that he had been pressing to get back on track, and Kerr told him to enjoy this final chapter.
“Rather than forcing it, we had a conversation about just enjoying this last chapter of my career and how lucky I truly am to still be playing this game and doing it at a high level and being a better mentor for these young guys, lead by example,” Thompson stated. “Have my energy right every game. He helped me realize if I do have negative energy how that affects the team in a poor manner.”
Thompsons said he no longer cares about his stats and wants to pass on what he has learned to the younger players on his team.
“That just helped me change my whole mindset and forget about shooting splits or points per game or All-Star games,” Thompson continued. “Just to enjoy being in this Warriors uniform and appreciate what we’ve built because it’s such a rare opportunity for any professional athlete to be a part of so much success. And to try and pass that torch to the younger guys and keep this thing going.”
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What he has accomplished during his time with the Warriors is truly special. Klay has been a key component of four title-winning teams and in the process, cemented his status as one of the greatest shooters in NBA history.
In this era, sustained success has proven to be so difficult due to player movement, and the Warriors have been one of the exceptions to the norm. They’ve been title contenders for nearly a decade and Thompson now has a greater appreciation for just how special his time with Golden State has been.
Is 2023-24 Klay Thompson’s Final Season In Golden State?
Klay should enjoy every moment with the team this season, as it might just be his last as a Warrior. He is going to be a free agent in the summer and as of right now, it does look like he’ll be on his way out.
NBA insider Shams Charania reported that Thompson was offered a two-year, $48 million deal by the Warriors in preseason but rejected it. Charania added that there is no offer on the table now.
We have seen a greater willingness on the part of Kerr to trust his younger players in 2023-24 and if Thompson demands an outrageous deal in the summer, I can see this being the end. He is only averaging 16.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game, and there is only so much that the Warriors would want to offer to him in a new deal at this stage of his career.
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