Klay Thompson to 'process' season before free agency begins

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Fighting his emotions from the most frustrating of nights, Klay Thompson peered high into the upper deck of Sacramento’s Golden 1 Center and caught a glimpse of one remaining fan wearing his No. 11 jersey.

That moment meant a great deal to him, a lasting memory to take into the offseason that is far sweeter than his 0-for-10 shooting performance in a 118-94 loss at Sacramento in the play-in tournament Tuesday night that ended the Warriors season without a playoff berth.

“On Tuesday, Thompson revealed that seeing a man in the nosebleeds wearing a No. 11 jersey made him happy, given his past experiences in Sacramento, from participating in a state championship to playing against the Kings in the playoffs. However, the main question on everyone’s mind was whether Thompson would be donning the same No. 11 jersey in the upcoming season.”

Experiencing that was like coming full circle for me. It was a heartening moment, to see that lone Warriors fan in the 300 level, proudly supporting number 11. It filled me with gratitude.

Thompson knows he wants to keep winning and has his sights set on a fifth championship before calling it a career.

One of the biggest decisions for Thompson and Golden State going into the offseason is determining where that might be.

“It’s clear that you’d want to continue the winning streak once you’ve tasted it. Hence, I’m yearning for another win. It would be great to have a ring on each finger,” he remarked, indicating his desire for a fifth victory. “I believe it’s achievable. It would require a massive effort, but that’s all there is to it. We just need to ponder over what will truly bring us joy in the twilight years of our career.”

For now, Thompson insisted he needs some time to decompress first. The season was a grind. He went in and out of the starting lineup and said he has learned not to be what he calls a “front-runner.”

“He said, “When you don’t hit your anticipated splits, you tend to sulk and pout. I believe I have improved in this aspect this year. I try to always maintain positive body language and think beyond mere statistics. I reflect on my passion for the game and the reasons why I play it.”

Thompson has repeatedly stated his wish to remain with Golden State throughout his career, even going as far as to say earlier this year, “I would love to be a Warrior for life.”

However, he has mentioned that he also needs to explore his options.

“He said, ‘Honestly, I haven’t given much thought to the distant future as I’m still processing the past year, which was a rollercoaster of highs and lows. However, both I and our team exerted our maximum effort to win as many games as we possibly could.'”

Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and the rest of the Warriors certainly hope he will remain with Golden State to continue that title hunt and that this wasn’t his final game with them — though Curry’s Splash Brother wasn’t ready to make any bold statements about what’s next while still feeling the sting of season being over far sooner than anybody would have imagined.

It was particularly difficult for Coach Steve Kerr to witness Thompson missing all six of his 3-point attempts.

“Klay holds a very special place in my heart. We’ve spent 10 years together and what he has meant to me during that time is immeasurable,” expressed Kerr. “Over the past couple of years, I’ve seen him battle feelings of devastation from his injuries. But, I’ve also witnessed him turn his season around through a shift in his approach. He found joy and freedom in the latter half of the season, which was wonderful to see.”

Thompson, aged 34, will turn into a free agent in July as his five-year contract, valued at almost $190 million, is at its expiration.

“His entire career has been spent here,” said teammate Kevon Looney on Wednesday. “Whenever you think of the Warriors, you think of Steph, him, Draymond. So, it would feel strange to see him wearing another team’s jersey or competing for someone else. But in the NBA, players switch teams more often than staying with the same one. It’s hard for me to visualize that.”

Thompson remains highly proud of his victorious comeback after being absent for over two and a half years. He missed the whole of the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons while recovering from surgeries on his left knee and right Achilles.

He is resolute in continuing to play and disprove people’s assumptions.

“Thompson said, “I’m not trying to put an expiration date on my career. When the time comes, it’s more of a feeling than anything else.”