Klay Thompson’s departure from the Golden State Warriors after 13 years is significant, ending one of the NBA’s most successful eras. His decision to join the Dallas Mavericks was especially disappointing for his father, Mychal Thompson. During a recent radio appearance, Mychal shared his feelings about Klay’s choice, expressing his deep disappointment that Klay didn’t join the Los Angeles Lakers.
“Hold your congratulations, Frank and Scal. I’m not feeling too much in a congratulatory mood right now. Obviously, it’s Klay’s decision, it’s his life, he’s a grown man at 34 years of age.”
“We were 34 at one time and our fathers would give us advice and we would choose our own path. And that’s fine, that’s what life is supposed to be about, but I’m really disappointed. I was hoping, hoping, as you can assess, that he would be a Laker. It was close, it came down to the Lakers and the Mavs, but the Mavs won out.”
“But you know me, I was hoping and praying he would finish his career with the Lakers. When he told me that the Lakers were talking to him, or gonna talk to him, and the Mavs too, obviously I tried to sell playing for the Lakers.”
“That’s the right thing for me to do and the proper thing for me to do and I felt like it was the correct thing for me to do because I really believe in this franchise, the franchise has been so good to me and my family, including Klay.”
“He grew up a Laker fan, he grew up idolizing Kobe Bryant like most kids his age so I just thought it seemed to be the perfect fit for him to come back home. We had always talked about him playing for the Lakers if he was not a Golden State Warrior.”
“Of course, being a fan of Kobe, he would have loved to have played for the Lakers. But he had a chance, and when the chance came he chose the Mavericks instead. I’ll live with it, I accept it and I’m happy for him that he’s happy with his decision, but of course, I tried to sell him on the Lakers.”
"I'm not feeling too much in a congratulatory mood."
Mychal Thompson had hopes that his son, Klay Thompson, would join the Lakers.@champagnennuts | @TheFrankIsola | @Scalabrine pic.twitter.com/8TH9bV3Ktw
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) July 2, 2024
Mychal Thompson had high hopes that Klay would follow in his footsteps and join the Lakers. He had a strong emotional and familial connection to the team, having won two titles with them and currently serving as a color commentator for their radio broadcasts.
Mychal believed that the Lakers were the perfect fit for Klay, who grew up as a Lakers fan and idolized Kobe Bryant. Throughout Klay’s career, they often discussed the possibility of Klay playing for the Lakers if he ever left the Warriors.
Despite the strong ties to the Lakers and Mychal’s efforts to persuade him, Klay ultimately chose the Mavericks. Several factors influenced his decision, including potential tax savings in Texas and the Mavericks’ recent success in reaching the NBA Finals. While the Lakers offered more money and long-term security, Klay opted to start a new chapter with Dallas.
Mychal Thompson found it hard to accept this decision. He had envisioned Klay finishing his career with the Lakers, continuing the family legacy. He believed in the Lakers franchise and its positive impact on his family, including Klay. Nevertheless, he respected Klay’s choice, recognizing that it was ultimately his decision to make.
Klay’s move to the Mavericks marks a significant shift in his career and the end of an era for the Warriors. Mychal Thompson, despite his disappointment, remains supportive of his son’s decisions and future endeavors, hoping for Klay’s happiness and success with his new team in Dallas.
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