Warriors guard Klay Thompson has been with the organization for 11 seasons and has been a major contributor to the team’s success. However, with Thompson’s contract expiring after 2023-24, there seemed to be an air of uncertainty surrounding his future in the organization.
Thompson’s Warrior stint
To this day, Thompson has played in 717 regular-season games and has put up an impressive line of 19.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg, and 2.3 apg. He has been named to five All-Star games and has been the recipient of four NBA championships.
The 33-year-old shooting guard is notably renowned for being the second-largest contributor to the Warriors’ championship run, teaming up with Stephen Curry to form the league’s most prolific shooting tandem.
Thompson and Warriors at a dead point
Despite his long-standing and commendable relationship with the Warriors, it appears that contractual renewals and terms have hindered the development of their partnership.
Adrian Wojnarowski, an ESPN league insider, covered the Thompson situation on NBA Countdown, stating “I’m told that there has been absolutely no progress on a Klay Thompson extension in Golden State,” said Wojnarowski. “They are both still apart on years and money, and there’s a very real possibility that Klay Thompson goes into free agency next summer without a deal,” an article from Clutchpoints wrote.
According to reports, Thompson’s age and lengthy injury history appeared to be the cause of the Warriors’ trepidation.
Shams Charania of The Athletic likewise provided an insight into the situation, stating the Warriors and Thompson have a “substantial disparity” in terms of both years and salary in contract negotiations. Charania further reported that the contract talks are “at a stalemate” and that all indications point to Thompson becoming a free agent for the first time in his career.
Reporting on @RunItBackFDTV: There's a significant gap in extension negotiations for Golden State and Klay Thompson, league sources say, as current signs point to the four-time champion going into 2024 free agency. pic.twitter.com/0U0wSXo0hR
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 23, 2023
“The Warriors and Klay Thompson have been discussing an extension,” Charania said on FanDuel’s Run It Back, as per Clutchpoints. “But from what I’m told, there’s a significant gap in years and money. The negotiations right now from what I’m told, they’re at a dead point. Thompson wants much more than the Warriors are offering overall in both years and salary… As of right now, all signs point to Klay Thompson going into free agency in the summer.”
Thompson: I don’t worry about it
Nevertheless, Thompson and his dad seemed to have no worries with regards to his future with the warriors.
Thompson stated earlier this month that he was not worried about the circumstances and would not let them get in the way of his quest for another championship.
“If I just do my job, I’m in shape and I compete at my highest level, I’m going to make money in this league for a long time. So I don’t worry about it…I’m not going to let that get in the way of winning a championship,” Thompson stated according to The Athletic.
On X, when a fan asked “Do we have enough cap money to finally get Klay?”, Mychal Thompson, Klay’s father, asserted that his son is not going anywhere.
Klay ain goin nowhere…He’s a Dub…
— Mychal Thompson (@champagnennuts) October 20, 2023
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