Klay Thompson finally spoke out about his surprising Warriors departure on Tuesday.
At his Dallas Mavericks introductory press conference, sitting down with fellow free-agent signees Najee Marshall and Quentin Grimes, Thompson gave honest answers about his mindset heading into the 2023-24 NBA season and explained why he’s the only NBA team he’s considering leaving the Warriors. Why do they feel good about it? He ever knew.
“Whether you play basketball or work in the corporate world or anywhere, in any industry, sometimes change can just foster greatness and a change of scenery,” Thompson told reporters at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. New change can do wonders.” “I’m very grateful for my time at Golden State, but I felt like moving on could re-energize me and do something special for the rest of my career.”
After spending his first 13 NBA seasons with the Warriors, Thompson opted to sign a three-year, $50 million contract with the Mavericks, joining All-Stars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
The tense contract negotiations between Thompson and the Warriors last year are well-documented, and when the pressure started to mount, the five-time All-Star decided it would be best to move on rather than return to a franchise that wasn’t making him a priority. Was. ,
“Probably a little disappointed at first, but then as time goes on, you have a lot of time to reflect and you realize what you did, they can’t take it away from you until the championship,” Thompson said. ” “I mean, records are meant to be broken, but your community and the impact you had on them all will live forever. Sometimes, it takes a break to do the right thing.”
The 2023–24 season did not go as planned for Thompson or the Warriors, with coach Steve Kerr ultimately moving the longtime shooting guard to the bench in favor of rookie Brandin Podziemski.
For someone as proud as Thompson, it was difficult to accept a lesser role.
“It was really tough at times last year,” Thompson said. “Everyone expects you to be an All-NBA player and sometimes it’s hard to do that consistently. That’s why there are only 15 spots on that team and coming here is a brand new start and it feels like Just needed it again and I came across a very good price.
“It makes me excited to go out there and even work out and take shots after this press conference. Yes, there were times last year, it was tough where it wasn’t as enjoyable as it was in the past And, it’s nice to give it up and have a brand new, fresh start, with a brand new group of people you know and coworkers, and I’m going to embrace that opportunity.”
Thompson leaving Steph Curry, Draymond Green and the Warriors has been hard for Dubs Nation to absorb, but he reminded everyone that he’s not the first player to leave the team after a long, storied tenure.
Thompson, 34, who spent more than a decade of his childhood in the Portland area, provided a typical example of an all-time great NBA player leaving the team with which he won a championship.
“I’m not the first athlete to do that in the NBA,” Thompson said. “I grew up in Portland and I remember when Scottie Pippen came to the Blazers, that was the greatest day of my life. And I’m not saying I’m Scottie, but they were right there against (Los Angeles) The Lakers almost won the chip. So I take a lot of inspiration from past athletes and how their careers went down when they either left the team or joined a new team. “I’m fresh out here and playing some good basketball with a lot of left in the tank.”
While Thompson’s father Mychal wanted his son to join the Los Angeles Lakers, Klay chose the Mavericks because of what he saw last season. Additionally, he stated that he wanted to leave the West Coast, where he had spent his entire basketball career dating back to his high school and college days.
“Dallas was so attractive because of the young players they have, the style of play, the world-class treatment these players get from this organization and a beautiful city that loves their hoops,” Thompson said.
“So when I was watching the playoffs and watching the Mavs make a run for the championship, I saw myself fitting in really well with this team and the personnel and it seemed like they needed each other. It’s fun playing together and they play for each other. And that was very attractive to me and that’s really all I wanted to see and there’s mutual interest and that’s why I’m here.”
Curry, Green and Dubs Nation hoped that Thompson would play his entire Hall of Fame career with the Warriors, but that would not be the case.
For Thompson, this is the change he needed at this point in his NBA career and personal life.
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