National Basketball Association (NBA) superstar Klay Thompson is set to enter into free agency after failing to agree on a contract extension with the Golden State Warriors prior to the start of the 2023/24 NBA game season.
The 34-year-old was in the final year of a five-year $189.9 million contract with the Warriors which expired at the end of this season. Despite his uncertain future with the Warriors, the franchise’s head coach, Steve Kerr, confirmed that he is “desperate” to have Thompson back during an appearance on the Jim Rome Show.
“I want him back desperately. And we will have our conversations and he has got to make whatever decision he makes, but we really want him back. He is Klay Thompson,” Kerr stated.
“We really want him back. He’s Klay Thompson.”
— Jim Rome (@jimrome) June 25, 2024
Warriors HC Steve Kerr on resigning the 5 time all-star. pic.twitter.com/RfYVWhEWgN
Thompson had one of the worst-ever seasons by his high standards this campaign and was relegated to a bench role for the first time since his rookie year. He averaged 17.9 points while shooting 38.7 percent from the three-point range per game in 77 appearances this season. It’s worth noting that this was the first time since the 2013/14 season that he averaged under 20 points for a full season.
Even with his poor performances in the recently concluded NBA 2023/24 season, the Warriors’ front office, led by general manager Mike Dunleavy, echoed Kerr’s thoughts, as they believe that Thompson remains a key part of their roster going forward.
“We want him back. We have said that all along. Hopefully, he will come back. But as far as the specifics and discussions and those types of things, I think it’s important to keep in-house and that stuff. When we figure out a solution to all that, we will have news for you,” Dunleavy said in his pre-NBA draft press conference.
Thompson, for his part, realizes that he will not receive a figure like that of his previous five-year, $189.9 million contract. Instead, it was reported that he is looking for an offer for at least three years and this is where the ball lies in the Warriors’ court. If the front office does offer him a deal he wants, there remains no doubt that the shooting guard will re-sign with the Warriors, considering that he has stated in the past that he wants to end his career in San Francisco.
Selected as the 11th overall by the Warriors in the 2011 NBA draft, Thompson has played a key role in the team’s four championship wins in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022 and his performances have earned him five NBA All-Star honors.
He is widely regarded as a clutch scorer, known for his prolific and efficient shooting, particularly from long range, and an expert free-throw shooter.
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