Klay Thompson Rejected The Lakers Because He Didn’t Believe They Could Win A Title

Klay Thompson had no faith that he could win with the Lakers.

5 Min Read

Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

After 11 years with the Golden State Warriors, 4x champion Klay Thompson made the biggest decision of his NBA career so far when he signed a contract to join the Dallas Mavericks on a three-year, $50 million deal. Klay had the chance to join the Lakers this summer as well but according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, he didn’t trust their ability to contend for a championship.

“Thompson chose the Mavericks over the Los Angeles Lakers, who also recruited him in free agency because he believed Dallas provided him the best chance to pursue a fifth championship ring,” wrote MacMahon. “He believed he could be the missing player after the Mavs, fresh off their five-game NBA Finals loss to the Boston Celtics, promised him a starting spot. He craved the opportunity to prove that, at 34 years old and with two major injuries on his medical records, he could still play a major role on a contender.”

Even at 34 years old, Klay Thompson began the summer as one of the league’s most valuable free agents. Since his ascension to stardom in 2015, Klay has been known as one of the best shooters in basketball and he’s got the hardware to prove it as a 5x All-Star, 4x champion, and 2x All-NBA player. His career numbers stand at 19.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game on 35.4% shooting from three.

This past summer, most experts expected him to return to Golden State and finish his career alongside Stephen Curry but he had other plans after a miserable season with the Warriors. Despite Thompson’s recent struggles and extensive injury history, he was a popular free agent target this summer and he was approached by various teams with an offer. The Lakers were one of them.

It’s unknown what the Lakers’ offer actually was, but it’s unlikely that any offer would have been enough to lure him away from the Mavericks. For Thompson, the Lakers were still somewhat unstable following a highly disappointing season and the debacle with Darvin Ham over the summer. That’s not to mention that LeBron James, who turns 40 next month, is overdue for a major physical decline.

In comparison, the Mavericks were fresh off an NBA Finals appearance with Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and an elite cast of veteran role-players including Daniel Gafford, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Dereck Lively II. The Mavericks, who haven’t won a title since 2011, are very much a team on the rise and Thompson understandably assumed that he could help elevate the franchise to another level in the West.

Of course, this season has not played out how Thompson would have liked. He’s struggling on the court (13.8 points per game on 41.8% shooting) and the Mavericks have been mediocre at best with a 5-5 record through the first 10 games.

The Lakers haven’t fared much better this season but it’s no secret that they’re on the trade market looking for talent. While Thompson may be out of reach, the Los Angeles Lakers can still make a trade to address some of their biggest flaws and that’s exactly what they’re expected to do.

After the Thompson signing, options are limited for the Mavericks but there’s still plenty of time for them to figure things around and secure a favorable position in the West. For Thompson’s sake, after betting his entire NBA future on the Mavericks, he has to make this work or he may come to regret ever leaving the Warriors.

Tonight, November 12th, Thompson will face off against his former team for the first time as part of the NBA Emirates Cup. It’s one of several meetings between the teams this season and the Warriors are set to honor their legend with a public show of support and appreciation.

Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.

Newsletter

Stay up to date with our newsletter on the latest news, trends, ranking lists, and evergreen articles

Follow on Google News

Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.

Share This Article
Follow:
Nico Martinez is a veteran staff writer for Fadeaway World from Brooklyn, New York. He joined Fadeaway World in 2016 and is currently residing in Columbia, South Carolina. Nico holds a degree in Sports Management from Columbia International University where he built a strong foundation in the inner workings of sports media and management. Nico's contributions have significantly enhanced the credibility and depth of Fadeaway World's content, earning him recognition across the sports journalism community. His work has been discussed in prestigious publications like Sports Illustrated. A dedicated follower of LeBron James, Nico often leads coverage on news related to the basketball star. With nearly a decade of experience in sports journalism, Nico consistently provides comprehensive and timely basketball news, engaging a wide audience of basketball enthusiasts.Nico's most desired player to interview, past or present, is Kevin Durant. He is particularly keen on asking Durant if he has any regrets about his career, especially concerning his departure from the Oklahoma City Thunder, and why he engages so much with fans on social media. 
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *