The speedy decline of Klay Thompson was some of the sobering storylines of the NBA season. Thompson was as soon as the second best shooter alive behind teammate Stephen Curry, with the “Splash Brothers” becoming a member of forces with Draymond Inexperienced to convey 4 NBA championships to the Golden State Warriors. Thompson’s profession hasn’t been the identical since tearing his ACL within the 2019 NBA Finals after which tearing his Achilles whereas rehabbing the knee damage.
Now 34 years outdated, the damage and tear on Thompson’s physique caught as much as him in full this season. The longer term Corridor of Fame inductee was initially combative with the media when requested about his drop off in play. Finally, Thompson reached acceptance, and shared an sincere and clear view of what it’s prefer to be a terrific athlete falling from the highest of their sport.
The Warriors’ season is now over after a 118-95 defeat by the hands of the Sacramento Kings within the 9-10 sport of the play-in event. Thompson had a disastrous efficiency that his crew simply couldn’t overcome. His last line was ugly:
- 0 factors
- 0-for-10 taking pictures from the ground
- 0-for-6 taking pictures from three-point vary
- 32 minutes
At first look, Klay nonetheless seems to be like Klay on the courtroom, operating lots of the identical actions that after keyed Golden State’s dynasty. The distinction now’s the pictures aren’t falling, and he’s a step gradual on the opposite finish defensively. It was an excessive amount of for the Warriors to beat towards a locked in Sacramento crew enjoying in entrance of a charged house crowd searching for revenge for final season’s first spherical defeat to Golden State.
Thompson is now set to enter free company this summer season, and his future with the Warriors may be very a lot in query. Golden State is deep into the posh tax for a crew that wasn’t adequate to make the playoffs this 12 months. Curry continues to be acting at a celebrity degree, however he wants extra assist. Thompson isn’t able to being his co-star anymore. After the sport, head coach Steve Kerr talked about what Thompson has meant to the group.
Steve Kerr’s heartfelt message towards Klay Thompson tonight and his season
“I like Klay a lot. I imply what he is meant to me within the 10 years we have been collectively. I’ve watched him the final couple of years combating the sensation of devastation from the accidents and I’ve watched him… pic.twitter.com/Kd6ITc1OCB
— KNBR (@KNBR) April 17, 2024
Kerr additionally mentioned the Warriors “want Klay again.” After all, that must include a steep pay reduce from the $43.2 million he made this season.
Thompson soaked within the scene in Sacramento after the loss, questioning if was the final time he’d placed on a Warriors jersey. That call will rely on a couple of issues, primarily: how a lot payroll does Warriors possession wish to reduce, what’s going to Thompson’s market appear to be elsewhere, and what’s a good quantity for his potential return? In line with ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the Warriors are planning to re-sign Thompson.
For those who simply regarded on the most simple stats, Thompson’s 12 months didn’t appear so dangerous. He averaged 17.9 factors per sport and shot 38.7 p.c from three-point vary. On the identical time, the Warriors had a damaging net-rating when Thompson was on the ground. There was a motive he misplaced his beginning spot for a lot of this season to rookie Brandin Podziemski.
It will be deeply unhappy if an 0-for-10 sport was the final time we noticed Thompson with the Warriors. He deserves so significantly better after grinding to return again from two devastating accidents after being some of the electrical shooters in league historical past. The Warriors face some robust choices in the event that they wish to construct one other contender round Curry. That begins with Thompson’s free company.
