Newsletter
Fadeaway World
  • Fadeaway World
  • NBA News & Analysis
  • NBA Trade Rumors
  • NBA News & Media
  • Exclusive Interviews
  • NBA 2K
Reading: Shannon Sharpe Calls Out Klay Thompson: “$140 Million And 2 Of Those Years You Missed”
Fadeaway WorldFadeaway World
Search
  • Fadeaway World
  • NBA News & Analysis
  • NBA Trade Rumors
  • NBA News & Media
  • Exclusive Interviews
  • NBA 2K
Follow US
Home > NBA News & Analysis > Shannon Sharpe Calls Out Klay Thompson: “$140 Million And 2 Of Those Years You Missed”

Shannon Sharpe Calls Out Klay Thompson: “$140 Million And 2 Of Those Years You Missed”

Shannon Sharpe makes it clear that the Warriors have not wronged Klay Thompson.

Gautam Varier
Jul 2, 2024
6 Min Read
Share

Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Golden State Warriors have been getting a lot of stick for wronging Klay Thompson and Shannon Sharpe has now come to their defense. On First Take, Sharpe pointed out that the Warriors already took care of Thompson in 2019 and don’t deserve to be criticized now.

Contents
  • Richard Jefferson Reveals Klay Thompson Was Mad About The Warriors Not Paying Him
  • The Warriors Were Planning To Bring Klay Thompson Off The Bench Next Season

“They didn’t wrong him,” Sharpe said. “Think about what you said. You said it three times, (Kendrick Perkins). Think about what Klay meant. I already paid you for what you meant. Remember I gave you that four-year, $140 million (contract), and two of those years you missed with a ruptured Achilles and an ACL? I paid you for that.

“I offered you two years, $48 million at the beginning of the season. You said no. You bet on yourself,” Sharpe continued. “… They don’t owe Klay. They paid Klay for that… They haven’t wronged him. They paid him a ton of money and they paid him two years on that four years, 140, and he only gave them two years of that.

“So, when he was rehabbing that Achilles, did they take any money back, Perk? That year that he tore his ACL, did they take any money back? Did they wrong him then,” Sharpe added.

(starts at 0:21 mark):

.@ShannonSharpe doesn't think Klay Thompson's been wronged by the Warriors.

"I already paid you for what you meant. Remember I gave you that four year, $140 million and two of those years you missed?" pic.twitter.com/2H7uTEDZOU

— First Take (@FirstTake) July 1, 2024

I don’t think I’ve ever agreed more with Sharpe. After Thompson tore his ACL in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals, the Warriors gave him a five-year, $190 million max extension. They did the right thing then by rewarding him for everything he had done, by not asking him to take a pay cut. 

The Warriors were universally applauded for it at the time and rightly so. I don’t think it’s unfair by any means for them to now, ask Thompson to take less money after what they did for him in 2019. If the Warriors had refused to give him a max contract back then, then it would be fair to say they wronged him, but not now.

Thompson only averaged 17.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game in the 2023-24 season. While the five-time All-Star wasn’t terrible, he wasn’t great by any means either. I wouldn’t blame the team for not being willing to break the bank for a 34-year-old who is clearly in decline, especially after taking care of him in 2019.


Richard Jefferson Reveals Klay Thompson Was Mad About The Warriors Not Paying Him

If you were wondering what had been going through Thompson’s mind last season, we got the answer thanks to his former teammate Richard Jefferson. On NBA Today, Jefferson revealed a conversation he had with him on Christmas last year.

“I never have shared this before out of respect to Klay,” Jefferson said Monday. “Getting off an elevator on Christmas Day… I see Klay, ‘Oh, Klay. What’s up?’ He says, ‘What’s up?’ I’m like, ‘Hey, man. Keep your mentals right.’ He’s like, ‘Man, tell them to pay me my money.'”

"This is on Christmas Day [of this season] … I get off the elevator and I see Klay [and say], 'Klay, what's up? Hey man, keep your mentals right.' He's like, 'Man, tell 'em to pay me my money.' … He has a right to be mad."

– Richard Jefferson 😳pic.twitter.com/vGTTdoVvAj

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) July 2, 2024

Jefferson added that he didn’t want to hear anything about what the Warriors had paid him over the years as he played his part in turning that franchise around. He felt his former teammate was right to be mad.

I don’t think so, but everyone is entitled to their opinion. I also believe that Thompson will regret his decision to leave, as the years go by. 


The Warriors Were Planning To Bring Klay Thompson Off The Bench Next Season

What might have also upset Thompson apart from the deal that was being offered, was him being relegated to the bench next season. According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, Brandin Podziemski was set to start over him if he re-signed.

“Flashing forward, if Thompson had returned to Golden State, the Warriors planned to bring Thompson off the bench behind sophomore guard Brandin Podziemski, sources said, after Golden State started its prized rookie for a good stretch during the second half of last season.”

Podziemski averaged 9.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game as a rookie. He started to come into his own as the season went by and I am not surprised that the Warriors thought the 21-year-old should be a starter in 2024-25. Thompson might have thought otherwise, though.

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

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.

TAGGED:Golden State Warriors ArchiveKlay ThompsonShannon Sharpe
Share This Article
Facebook Email Copy Link Print
ByGautam Varier
Follow:
Gautam Varier is a staff writer and columnist for Fadeaway World from Mumbai, India. He graduated from Symbiosis International University with a Master of Business specializing in Sports Management in 2020. This educational achievement enables Gautam to apply sophisticated analytical techniques to his incisive coverage of basketball, blending business acumen with sports knowledge.Before joining Fadeaway World in 2022, Gautam honed his journalistic skills at Sportskeeda and SportsKPI, where he covered a range of sports topics with an emphasis on basketball. His passion for the sport was ignited after witnessing the high-octane offense of the Steve Nash-led Phoenix Suns. Among the Suns, Shawn Marion stood out to Gautam as an all-time underrated NBA player. Marion’s versatility as a defender and his rebounding prowess, despite being just 6’7”, impressed Gautam immensely. He admired Marion’s finishing ability at the rim and his shooting, despite an unconventional jump shot, believing that Marion’s skill set would have been even more appreciated in today’s NBA.This transformative experience not only deepened his love for basketball but also shaped his approach to sports writing, enabling him to connect with readers through vivid storytelling and insightful analysis.
Previous Article Donovan Mitchell Agrees To Three-Year, $150.3 Million Maximum Contract Extension With The Cavaliers
Next Article Klay Thompson Asked Stephen Curry Not To Extert His Influence To Ensure Warriors Return
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

Newsletter

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

Newsletter
Facebook X-twitter Instagram

You Might Also Like

Warriors star Jimmy Butler
Golden State Warriors News & Analysis

Stephen Curry Says Jimmy Butler Gives Warriors “Legitimate Shot” At 2026 Title

October 3, 2025
JJ Redick
Los Angeles Lakers News & Analysis

Richard Jefferson Reveals Major Flaw In JJ Redick’s Coaching

October 3, 2025
Luka Doncic
Los Angeles Lakers News & Analysis

Austin Reaves Recalls Luka Doncic’s First Game Back In Dallas After Blockbuster Trade

October 3, 2025
Golden State Warriors Trade Rumors

Warriors Could Target Bam Adebayo As A Long Term Solution For Center Position

October 3, 2025

NBA - Fadeaway World

  • Atlanta Hawks
  • Boston Celtics
  • Brooklyn Nets
  • Charlotte Hornets
  • Chicago Bulls
  • Cleveland Cavaliers
  • Dallas Mavericks
  • Denver Nuggets
  • Detroit Pistons
  • Golden State Warriors
  • Houston Rockets
  • Indiana Pacers
  • Los Angeles Clippers
  • Los Angeles Lakers
  • Memphis Grizzlies
  • Miami Heat
  • Milwaukee Bucks
  • Minnesota Timberwolves
  • New Orleans Pelicans
  • New York Knicks
  • Oklahoma City Thunder
  • Orlando Magic
  • Philadelphia 76ers
  • Phoenix Suns
  • Portland Trail Blazers
  • Sacramento Kings
  • San Antonio Spurs
  • Toronto Raptors
  • Utah Jazz
  • Washington Wizards

Pages

  • NBA Trade Rumors
  • NBA Media
  • Exclusive NBA Interviews
  • NBA 2K News & Updates

© 2025 Fadeaway World @ All Rights Reserved

  • About Fadeaway World
  • Fadeaway World Authors
  • Editorial Team
  • Ethics Policy
  • Corrections Policy
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Fact-Checking Policy
  • Contact Us
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?