Klay Thompson’s Warriors breakup and arrival to Mavericks, explained

Here’s why Klay Thompson left the Warriors in NBA free agency.

Klay Thompson was the soul of the Golden State Warriors’ dynasty. Thompson is one of the greatest shooters in NBA history by any measure, and at his peak, he was a disruptive perimeter defender who helped make Golden State’s defense nearly as scary as its offense. Flanked by the legend Stephen Curry and defensive mastermind Draymond Green, Thompson helped the Warriors win four NBA championships.

Then Golden State just let him walk in free agency this past summer without much of a fight.

Thompson is now a member of the Dallas Mavericks. On Tuesday, the veteran shooting guard returns to the Bay Area for the first time as a member of an opposing team. It promises to be an emotional night for Thompson and his former Warriors teammates, but the bad blood between the veteran star and the organization remains palpable.

Anyone paying attention to the Warriors last season could sense a divorce with Thompson coming. Head coach Steve Kerr benched Thompson at one point before he eventually regained his starting spot, but it was clear the organization was prioritizing younger talent around Curry and Green.

The Warriors made sure Curry and Green were rewarded with new contracts when they were up for extensions. Golden State also made an offer to Thompson long before he hit free agency, but it wasn’t the same nine-figure deal that Curry and Green got. On the brink of his 35th birthday, Thompson is away from the Bay for the first time in his pro career, and is now playing for a Mavericks team that could see the Warriors deep in the playoffs.

What were the factors that led to Thompson’s breakup with the Warriors? How deep does the bad blood run? Let’s dive into how and why Thompson left Golden State.

Klay Thompson’s back-to-back leg injuries changed his career forever

The Golden State Warriors looked poised to three-peat as they entered the 2019 NBA Finals. Then Kevin Durant tore his Achilles in Game 5, and Thompson tore his ACL in Game 6. The Toronto Raptors won the series to claim their first NBA championship ever, and sent the Warriors into a tailspin.

Durant left the Warriors in free agency to sign with the Brooklyn Nets that summer. Thompson would miss the entire 2019-2020 season as he rehabbed his torn ACL. As he was readying to return for the 2020-2021 season, Thompson suffered a torn Achilles in training. He would be sidelined for the entire season again. The Warriors paid him $68 million total in those two seasons for zero played games.

As Thompson was out, some of his younger teammates started to emerge.

The Warriors win 2022 championship with Thompson playing a key role

The Warriors started to look like the Warriors again when Thompson returned. Thompson made his return on Jan. 9, 2022. He would play and start 32 games for the rest of the year. The Warriors won 53 games on the season, and entered the playoffs as the No. 3 seed in the West.

The Warriors reached the 2022 NBA Finals, where they defeated the Boston Celtics in six games to claim the fourth ring of the dynasty. Thompson made 35.1 percent of his 57 three-point attempts in the NBA Finals while playing more than 38 minutes per game.

Thompson’s comeback was an amazing story, but it was clear he wasn’t yet the same player he was before the injuries, and perhaps never would be again. The Warriors won the title mostly because of Curry’s brilliance, but also got key contributions from Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole, two players the team would prioritize re-signing over Thompson.

Wiggins and Poole get paid, Green punches Poole

After the championship, the Warriors decided to re-sign Wiggins and Poole while Green and Thompson waited for extensions. Wiggins signed a four-year, $109 million deal. Poole signed for four years, $140 million. Green and Thompson were both reportedly frustrated that the team gave the younger players deals but not the foundational stars next to Curry for four titles.

Green punched Poole in the face in training camp as the Warriors were about to start their title defense. Golden State only won 44 games, and were knocked out in the second round of the playoffs.

Green signed a $100 million deal the following summer. Poole was traded for Chris Paul. Meanwhile, Thompson entered the final year of his contract without an extension.

The Warriors offer Klay Thompson a contract

The Warriors reportedly offered Thompson a two-year, $48 million extension. That offer reportedly did not stay on the table as Thompson’s play started to slip and team continued to prioritize younger players.

The Warriors never really hit their stride in the 2023-2024 season. The team won 46 games, but failed to make the playoffs after being eliminated in the play-in tournament. Anyone paying attention could tell Thompson was miserable.

Klay Thompson’s ‘miserable’ final season on the Warriors

Thompson gave fans a rare look into the psyche of an elite athlete who was slipping from their peak during the 2023-24 season. He was often combative with the media, but always honest about how he felt about his diminishing role with the team. Thompson’s first viral press conference of the season happened in late Nov. as he questioned his doubters:

Thompson was eventually benched by head coach Steve Kerr in Feb. in favor of rookie Brandin Podziemski. He would regain his starting spot later in the season, but by that point his discontent was clear.

Thompson gave another viral interview in the locker room in Feb. You can hear the pain in his voice.

Thompson’s final game with the Warriors was a brick fest. He shot 0-for-10 from the field as the Warriors were eliminated by the Sacramento Kings in the play-in tournament.

After the game, Thompson soaked in the scene for what would be his final time in a Golden State uniform:

Thompson asked Curry not to influence Warriors’ free agent decision

Thompson’s representatives made one final overture to the Warriors, reportedly offering a two-year, $40 million deal. Golden State was busy chasing Paul George and maybe Lauri Markkanen at the time.

Thompson reportedly asked Curry not to influence the Warriors’ free agency decision.

It’s been a layered five-year path to this divorce, splintering last season, sprouting earlier and finalizing in the last couple weeks, where —among the conversations Thompson had, league sources said — was a request of Stephen Curry not to exert his significant organizational influence and up the temperature with management to ensure Thompson’s return. Curry’s measured voice, even if it altered the outcome, wouldn’t change the genuineness of Joe Lacob and the front office’s true desire to have Thompson back.

The franchise would let him walk.

Klay Thompson signs with the Mavericks

With his Warriors tenure over, Thompson entered free agency for the first time at 34 years old. He was interested in the Lakers, Thunder, and Mavericks. The Lakers were reportedly weighing an $80 million offer, but it was contingent on the Warriors or a third team taking D’Angelo Russell.

Thompson decided to sign with the Mavericks on a three-year, $50 million deal. The Mavericks were coming off an NBA Finals appearance, and Thompson was intrigued by the opportunity to play with his former Team USA teammate Kyrie Irving as well as Luka Doncic.

Thompson spoke about what the opportunity in Dallas meant to him at the introductory press conference.

Thompson returns to the Bay

Thompson is off to a solid start for the Mavericks this year. He’s averaging 13.8 points per game and shooting 35.4 percent from three. He’s playing 30 minutes per game and has started every game so far.

It sure feels weird to see Klay back in the Bay wearing a different uniform.

Thompson will be remembered forever as a Warrior. Now he’s trying to write a perfect closing chapter to his career with a new contender out West in the Mavericks.