Klay Thompson was part of the Warriors‘ dynasty core with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green for over a decade. But since joining the Mavericks, Klay hasn’t kept in touch with either Steph or Draymond, as he told Marc J. Spears of Andscape, and is focused on his new team. While he looks back on his time with the Warriors fondly, he is solely concerned with helping his current side, the Mavericks, win.
“I’m locked in. Not really (on keeping in touch with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green). I will see them when I see them. That’s it.”
“That chapter is over. I’m in the midst of trying to win here. There is no point in missing anything when we have such a great opportunity here to be great. There’s no point in looking back… I got to look forward. I got to try to give my best self here.”
Klay Thompson played for the Warriors for 13 years, winning four NBA championships, reaching six NBA Finals, and making five All-Star teams, two All-NBA teams, and one All-Defensive team during his time with the Warriors.
Thompson’s career trajectory changed drastically when he suffered a brutal injury in the 2019 NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors. Despite tearing his left ACL, the Warriors offered him a massive five-year, $189 million contract in the offseason. Thompson would get injured once again, ahead of the 2020-21 NBA season, tearing his right Achilles.
After two full seasons missed, Thompson made his return to the Warriors in December of 2021. And while he looked decent, it was clear he was no longer the All-Star caliber player he was prior to his injuries. After winning an NBA championship in 2022, Thompson’s performance really began to decline.
The 2023-24 NBA season was perhaps Thompson’s worst in some time, as he struggled to be consistent. This lack of consistency was also the main reason the Warriors didn’t want to pay him a high salary, causing him to leave the franchise and sign with the Mavericks for three years and $50 million.
Stephen Curry Hates Klay Thompson’s No. 31 Jersey For The Mavericks
Stephen Curry had to bid farewell to his teammate this season. But that doesn’t mean that he likes seeing him in new colors. Curry spoke about seeing Thompson’s new number 31 jersey with the Mavericks. Curry joked that he isn’t used to seeing 31 on his jerseys, after playing with Klay as number 11 for so long, and so, he hates seeing it.
“It’s weird seeing No. 31 (on it). I hate that.”
Curry will have to set aside his feelings on the jersey number, and treat Thompson like an opponent. The two players will face each other as opponents for the first time in an official NBA game tomorrow night. And fans should expect it to be a tightly contested affair between two former star teammates.
After playing for one team his entire career, one would expect Thompson to face challenges when joining a new team. And so far, he hasn’t exactly set the world on fire with the Mavericks. While he did set a record for the most three-pointers made by a Mavs player in their debut, his performances haven’t been up to the mark.
To start the season, Thompson has averaged 13.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.2 blocks. Thompson, who is one of the greatest shooters of all time, has not looked like it, shooting just 41.8% from the field and 35.4% from three. Although, he has been perfect from the free-throw line.
Can Thompson get a measure of revenge on his former team tomorrow night? It will be a difficult game, as the Warriors have been one of the best teams in the NBA so far, and the Mavericks have struggled to build the right type of momentum. The Warriors and Mavericks face off Tuesday night in their first games of the NBA Cup.
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