Klay Thompson to 'process' season before free agency begins
Klay Thompson’s finale without scoring leads into his free agency in the upcoming offseason.
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.
“Looking up in the nosebleeds, I saw a man wearing a jersey with the number 11. It was a happy sight, given my history in Sacramento, from the state championship to playing against the Kings in the playoffs,” Thompson recounted on Tuesday. The main question at that moment was whether he would be donning the same No. 11 jersey in the coming season.
For me, it was somewhat of a full circle moment. It was really a high point, just observing that solitary Warriors fan up in the 300 level, representing number 11. I felt a sense of gratitude seeing that.
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 where that might be.
After the Warriors’ elimination following a loss to the Kings in the Play-In Tournament, what should be Golden State’s offseason strategy?
“Clearly, the desire to continue winning is strong. When you’ve experienced successful seasons, you naturally want more of that. So, I aim to win once more. A fifth victory, symbolizing a ring on each finger, would indeed be satisfying,” he expressed, referring to his aspiration of achieving a championship ring for each finger. “I firmly believe that it’s still achievable. Of course, it will require immense effort. Aside from that, I just need to contemplate what will truly bring happiness in the twilight years of my 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, “You tend to sulk and pout when you’re not achieving your anticipated splits. However, I believe I improved on this aspect this year, focusing on displaying positive body language consistently. It’s more than just statistics, it’s about your passion for the game and understanding why you play it.”
Thompson has repeatedly stated his wish to remain with Golden State throughout his entire career. Earlier this year, he expressed, “I would love to be a Warrior for life.”
Nonetheless, he has mentioned that he must also investigate his options.
“He stated, “I haven’t really contemplated that far into the future, as I’m still processing the year we’ve had, which was a rollercoaster. However, both I and our team did our utmost to win as many games as possible.”
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 of his six attempts at 3-pointers.
“Klay means the world to me, especially during the 10 years we’ve spent together,” Kerr expressed. “I’ve seen him battle the overwhelming emotions resulting from his injuries over the past few years. Yet, I also saw him turn his season around with his mindset. He seemed to relish the latter half of the season, playing with added liberty and happiness.”
Thompson, who is 34 years old, will become a free agent in July as his nearly $190 million five-year contract expires.
“His entire career has been spent here,” Kevon Looney, his teammate, stated on Wednesday. “Whenever you consider the Warriors, Steph and Draymond come to mind, and of course him. So, seeing him in a different jersey or playing for a different team would be strange. However, in the NBA today, players tend to switch teams more frequently than sticking with the same one. Personally, I would find it difficult to envision that.”
Thompson continues to take immense pride in his victorious comeback after being absent for over 2 1/2 years. He missed the entire 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons recovering from surgeries on his left knee and right Achilles.
He is resolute in continuing to play and disprove others’ doubts.
“Thompson said, “I’m not trying to put an expiration date on my career. When that time comes, I believe it’s something you just go by feel.”
