Klay Thompson is a part of the most successful generation in Golden State Warriors history, but it seems like it’s time for a farewell.
In a way, it’s almost unthinkable to separate the trio of Stephen Curry – Klay Thompson – Draymond Green. For a while, the final “spice” was Kevin Durant, and Andre Iguodala also played a significant role. There’s also Kevon Looney, and even Andrew Wiggins, especially during the previous season when the Golden State Warriors won their fourth NBA title in the last nine years. As things stand now, it seems like it was the “last dance of a dynasty.”
This competitive year has seen a lot of adversity, injury problems, and moments of tension. It’s important to consider that the entire franchise was deeply affected by the passing of Dejan Milojevic. However, even in such circumstances, many believed they had the strength for another serious step forward.
This season’s journey ended at the first hurdle in the play-in, when they were swept off the court by the Sacramento Kings. One particular moment stood out in the closing stages of that game. It’s not just the sad faces of the Golden State Warriors, but also Klay Thompson. Everyone had already headed to the tunnel towards the locker room, but he had a special reason to pause and take a good look around for a few seconds. The arena was filled with Warriors fans who had been there for him from the very beginning, witnessing each of the four titles.
Klay Thompson sure looks like a guy who might have played his last game in a Warriors jersey
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) April 17, 2024
pic.twitter.com/RcrzHFUm3Z
Klay Thompson has played an incredible number of memorable games. He has broken many NBA records, scorched the net of every opponent in the world’s premier league, but the game against the Sacramento Kings was not among his best.
On the contrary, he may have played one of the worst games of his career. He attempted 10 shots from the field and didn’t make a single one. What’s usually his trademark, the three-point shot, completely failed him this time (0/6).
Signs by the wayside
His massive contract with the Golden State Warriors is something the San Francisco franchise can hardly afford. And it’s unlikely to happen. Perhaps it’s time for a new challenge, and that challenge might lie precisely in that three-point shot.
The Orlando Magic finished this season as the fifth team in the Eastern Conference. They achieved 45 wins and 37 losses, and currently, they’re trailing 2-0 against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Their biggest weakness throughout most of the season was their three-point shooting. Now, that has turned out to be a problem they urgently need to address.
They opened the playoffs with a dismal three-point shooting percentage of 16.6% (8/48). They’re a team with the most room in the salary cap, and it seems they’ll have the financial ability during the summer to sign the best free agents on the market. Signs by the wayside suggest that could be Klay Thompson. Is it time for a new challenge in a brilliant career?