Klay Thompson has reportedly been embracing a fresh start with the Dallas Mavericks. Thompson, 34, previously played for the Golden State Warriors. Thompson’s previous 13-year tenure in the Bay Area was historic and full of on-court accomplishments, including four NBA championships, and positively impacted Warriors fans from all walks of life.
Anyone can experience an emotional rollercoaster, even Thompson. The only difference is Thompson has been swimmingly riding the emotional rollercoaster of NBA free agency. In case you missed it, Thompson signed a three-year, $50 million contract with the Mavericks in the early days of free agency. The signing signaled a new NBA team, local culture, and everything else. Read on for further information surrounding the signing.
Klay Thompson’s Fresh Start In Dallas
Klay Thompson’s final five years in the Bay Area were a mixed bag after he reportedly agreed to stay with the Golden State Warriors on a five-year, $190 million maximum contract with an additional 15% trade kicker as a result of not making an All-NBA Team. That would have made him eligible for a supermax contract like Stephen Curry. Thompson underwent a successful knee surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) the following day.
The same year, Thompson returned to the court. The former 11th overall pick scored 17 points on 7-from-18 shooting in 20 minutes, as the Golden State Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 96-82 at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California. But Thompson’s injuries nagged him in spurts between 2019 and 2024, which was likely frustrating for the Warriors organization and fans alike.
Thompson’s signing with the Dallas Mavericks ended the “Splash Brothers” era in the Bay Area. Thompson reportedly wanted a change of scenery in Dallas, Texas, and to immerse himself in new experiences. ESPN Staff Writer Tim MacMahon recently reported on Thompson’s new experiences, such as a bicycle with pedals, in a full-length feature.
Thompson recently told ESPN, “Don’t need a boat … That’s what summertime is for. I got enough cold-water boating in the Bay to last me some years.” Thompson’s recent statement was far from his Warriors days when he would commute to home games by boat. However, Thompson briefly considered bringing a Boston Whaler to Dallas and docking it at one of the local lakes.
Thompson Closes the Book On Golden State
The Golden State Warriors will throw a fete for Klay Thompson on Tuesday night, including a “Salute Captain Klay” ceremony before tip-off against the Dallas Mavericks. Thompson’s much-anticipated return to San Francisco will be emotional for the Warriors organization and fans, but not so much for him and the Mavericks. Thompson has been reported to be content to have closed the book on his Golden State journey alongside Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.
Contrary to popular belief, Thompson reportedly felt it was necessary to finish his NBA career with another team following persistent doubts about his future with the Warriors. Thompson is a Los Angeles, California, native, who could’ve signed with his father Mychal’s Los Angeles Lakers, who also recruited him in NBA free agency but ultimately chose the Mavericks. Whenever Thompson wants fresh air and a water fix, the 34-year-old would hop on his bicycle and pedal from his Dallas home to White Rock Lake, a reservoir in northeast Dallas.
Thompson reportedly believed he could be the missing player for the Mavericks, who are coming off a five-game NBA Finals loss to the Boston Celtics, compared to the Lakers. Thompson told ESPN, “Honestly, it’s rejuvenated me and done something I needed bad just for my mental and my career … So, I really feel the love here, and I feel highly valued that I can do great things.”
Thompson Is Only Human
Like everyone else, Klay Thompson is only human. Thompson’s two devastating injuries — a torn ACL in his left knee and a ruptured right Achilles tendon — are on his medical records. But the Dallas Mavericks seemed to have overlooked his injury-prone past with the Golden State Warriors, a debatable win-win situation as Thompson reportedly feels “free” after a late career move. The Mavericks’ wish for a final piece to the NBA Finals puzzle came true.
Thompson’s diminished role with the Warriors was a constant news story in the NBA news cycle from 2019 to 2024 after nearly a decade of steady success from the Warriors’ “Splash Brothers” and “Big Three.” Thompson briefly explained his story’s side to ESPN, “We’re all human … Every pro athlete’s human, and uncertainty can bear on you.”
