Kerr believes Thompson’s injuries in the last five years contributed to him wanting to depart. The Dallas Mavericks recently signed Klay Thompson to a three-year, $50 million contract, stunning some in the NBA that he would consider leaving the Golden State Warriors, let alone follow through on it. He and fellow “Splash Brother” Stephen Curry were arguably the greatest backcourt in NBA history, winning four championships together. Warriors coach Steve Kerr recently spoke with 95.7 The Game, a San Francisco sports radio station, about Thompson’s choice and the influence injuries have had on his psyche over the last three seasons.
READ MORE: Klay Thompson’s Relationship with Kyrie Irving Aided Decision to Join Mavericks.
“Klay was unflappable from 2014 until 2019, before his injury. He rarely needed much help from me as a coach. He was just so delighted to be playing at such a high level. I’d check in with him, and he was always fine and enjoying life. This altered after the two injuries.He’s struggling to regain his previous level. Even if I believe he played exceptionally well for us at times in recent years and undoubtedly contributed to our title victory…He was still a high-level player. In his own opinion, and I believe in the minds of everyone watching, he wasn’t the same guy as before.
There were injuries. Klay struggled with that.
“Honestly, I believe that everything that happened organizationally was a result of the frustration with the injuries.
“We were always really good at talking with Klay about our feelings for him. In the end, he needed this professional move, and I believe it will be beneficial to him.
Thompson tore his ACL in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors, causing him to miss the whole 2019-20 season. Toward the conclusion of his recovery, he tore his Achilles tendon, forcing him to miss the whole 2020-21 season and a significant portion of the 2021-22 season. He returned to help them win the championship in 2022, although it was evident he wasn’t the same player he had been before his injuries. Many great players find it difficult to accept that their talents have deteriorated, especially when the decrease is due to injury. The Mavericks should not expect Klay Thompson to be the same as he was during the Warriors’ heyday, but they should receive an outstanding shooter who can help stretch the floor for Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Their biggest shortcoming in the NBA Finals was three-point shooting, and Thompson is still an excellent shooter with several three-point records.
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