Five-time Golden State Warriors All-Star swingman Klay Thompson recently unfollowed the Warriors on Instagram (though he still follows their charity organization and NBA G League affiliate), and cleared out all but one image of himself in Golden State gear dating back to April 2022.
Now, Thompson’s always-talkative four-time All-Star teammate Draymond Green has opted to (sort of) weigh in, via his podcast “The Draymond Green Show” on The Volume.
“I know all of you were probably looking forward to me talking about Klay unfollowing the Warriors and deleting some IG posts or something,” Green said. “I had no idea that happened. I think it’s f—ing hilarious… I think that’s comical. I know you all be wanting somebody’s feelings to be hurt or something, it ain’t that, it ain’t never going to be that, that’s hilarious.”
This is a strange reaction to have to your comrade of 12 seasons, an unrestricted free agent this summer, likely trying to strong-arm team president Mike Dunleavy Jr. and majority owner Joe Lacob into working towards a contract extension prior to the official start of the 2024 offseason.
There’s a decent chance Thompson walks now. The 6-foot-6 Washington State product was a critical component of his club’s six NBA Finals appearances and four championships, along with Green and All-NBA point guard Stephen Curry. Having Kevin Durant around for three consecutive appearances from 2017-19 didn’t hurt, either.
Last season, Thompson continued to show signs of age- and injury-related decline. Though mostly healthy (he appeared in 77 games, starting 63), Thompson fully fell from an All-Defensive Team perimeter threat to a practical sieve on that end. Now on the other side of Achilles and ACL tears, the 34-year-old Splash Brother lacks the lateral quickness or overall agility that made him such a two-way force in his prime.
In 2023-24, Thompson averaged 17.9 points on .432/.387/.927 shooting splits, his lowest scoring output since his sophomore season in 2012-13 (Green’s rookie year). He also chipped in 3.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.5 blocks per bout.
Green, always a defensive pest, devolved into a team chemistry threat. The eight-time All-Defensive Teamer was suspended multiple times for various on-court skirmishes with opponents, and his myriad absences proved costly for an already slight Warriors frontcourt. All told Green missed 27 games due to injury and suspension. Golden State stumbled to a 46-36 record and the West’s No. 10 seed. The Warriors fell 118-94 in a play-in game blowout to the Sacramento Kings, who themselves weren’t good enough to get out of the play-in tournament, either, falling to a New Orleans Pelicans team missing its best player, star forward Zion Williamson.
While young talents Jonathan Kuminga and rookie Brandin Podziemski took major leaps in 2023-24, the Warriors’ aging core looked more vulnerable than it ever had before.
It’s clear that, for the team to return to title contention, the Warriors will need to find a way to bring in new talent. Thompson will need to take a significant pay cut from his $43.1 million salary last season for Golden State to re-ascend the West’s ranks. But will he be amenable to doing that?
Uncommon Knowledge
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