Klay Thompson’s Bold Request to Steph During Warriors Contract Talks
Leaving the Golden State Warriors was a difficult choice for Klay Thompson. Monday saw the experienced guard finalize a $50 million deal with the Dallas Mavericks, marking the end of his 13-year stint with the team he has always played for in the NBA.
Klay Thompson’s exit included difficult discussions, especially with his longtime teammate and fellow Splash Brother, Steph Curry. During the weeks before free agency, Thompson requested Curry not to push the Warriors’ management to re-sign him as talks with the team were at a standstill. Thompson asked Curry not to use his strong influence within the organization to guarantee his comeback, as reported by The Athletic’s Anthony Slater.
Klay Thompson’s Path to Departure
Slater explained the intricate process leading to Klay Thompson’s exit, stating, “It has been a multi-faceted five-year road to this separation, starting to fracture last season, beginning earlier, and wrapping up in recent weeks.” Although Curry was able to influence management, Thompson’s desire was still honored. The Warriors had limited contact with Thompson and his agents in the past few weeks.
Curry has a significant impact on the organization. Frequently, he approves significant decisions before they are executed by the front office, as happened with the Warriors’ failed attempt to acquire star forward Paul George. Both Curry and Draymond Green agreed with the decision until George opted to join the Philadelphia 76ers rather than the Warriors.
New Beginnings in Dallas
Thompson ended up making the challenging choice by himself. He is now teaming up with Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving for the Mavericks. Klay Thompson, who belongs to a Western Conference competitor, will play against Curry and the Warriors in a minimum of three games in the 2024-25 NBA season.
This change signals the conclusion of a significant time for Thompson and the Warriors, as well as the start of a promising new phase in his journey with the Mavericks.
