Possibly the best trio in NBA history is history: Klay Thompson leaves the Warriors with Stephen Curry (r.) and Draymond Green (l.).Image: EPA
Together with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, he shaped the NBA for years. But now Klay Thompson will be leaving the Golden State Warriors – it is the sad end of an era.
05.07.2024, 16:2405.07.2024, 17:15
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It’s not official yet, but when Adrian Wojnarowski and Shams Charania say: “Klay Thompson is signing with the Dallas Mavericks,” you can assume that this will soon become a reality. The two journalists are, so to speak, the Fabrizio Romano and Florian Plettenberg of the NBA. So it can be expected that the 34-year-old basketball star will soon be hunting for baskets as a teammate of Luka Doncic.
“We cannot praise Thompson’s incredible and legendary achievements highly enough.”
Golden State Warriors
One thing is certain: the extremely successful era of the Golden State Warriors with Thompson, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green is coming to an end. Thompson has already announced his departure. In twelve years together – Green was drafted in 2012 after Thompson (2011) and Curry (2009) had already been selected by the Warriors in the draft – the three stars won four championships together and reached the NBA Finals twice more. In doing so, they shaped one of the most successful eras in the history of the best basketball history in the world.
6:21 minutes of Klay Thompson’s best moments in the NBA.Video: YouTube/NBA
The Golden State Warriors have already said goodbye to the shooting guard. “We cannot overstate Klay Thompson’s incredible and legendary achievements during his 13 years with the team,” the San Francisco team wrote in a press release, adding: “The joy and happiness that Klay brought to Warriors fans was immense and cannot be downplayed.”
The Warriors no longer use the number 11
His performances in pressure situations and in decisive playoff games – which earned him the nickname “Game 6 Klay” – were particularly highlighted. “His legacy will always live on and we look forward to the day when we can put his jersey with the number 11 under the stadium roof.” This honor is given to the greatest legends in US sport, their number is no longer assigned by the respective teams.
«‹Splash Bros› for life.»
Stephen Curry
However, the five-time All-Star is not only one of the most popular NBA pros among fans, teammates and coaches alike because of his performances. Warriors coach Steve Kerr never tired of saying that Thompson was extremely easy to care for. The son of Bahamian ex-NBA pro Mychal Thompson had no star airs and graces and is therefore unique among the often egocentric NBA superstars. Thompson is a fighter and hardly needed the ball, which made him the perfect teammate – in his best game with 60 points, he only bounced the ball eleven times.
His longtime teammate Stephen Curry sent a heartfelt message via Instagram when he learned of Thompson’s departure: “I will miss you. Although we will not finish our journey together, what we did will never happen again.” Together with Green, the two changed the game, wrote Curry, adding: “Thank you for everything, brother. ‘Splash Bros’ for life.” Curry and Thompson were nicknamed the “Splash Brothers” because of their previously unseen shooting skills.
This is also why he belongs to the small group of players who would fit into any team in the NBA. Klay Thompson is one of those players who you could put any four basketball players next to and the team would still work. Because he is one of the best in the areas that every team needs: three-pointers and defense. At least he was for a long time – in terms of defense, he is no longer at the level of his best days.
The «Splash Brothers» Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry (r.).Image: AP
941 days break and then champion again
This is also due to his serious injuries: In the 2018/19 NBA finals, he tore the cruciate ligament in his left knee, which meant he missed the entire next season. Before the 2020/21 season, his right Achilles tendon tore, and he had to take another long break. Klay Thompson did not play in a professional basketball game for 941 days. When he came back, he needed some time to get used to it, but in the playoffs he performed as if the injuries had never happened.
In the 2021/22 season, he delivered his masterpiece with Curry and Green. Although hardly anyone believed they could do it, the Golden State Warriors won the championship again. It was the final proof that this trio can continue to be successful even without Kevin Durant, the Warriors’ best player in the 2016/17 and 2017/18 title wins. Despite the championship in 2014/15 and the record number of wins in the regular season (73) the following year, there were still doubts.
Klay Thompson had a great time at the championship parade.Image: www.imago-images.de
This new triumph of the aging stars together with younger top performers like Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole was all the more important. But the bond soon crumbled. Green punched Poole in the face during training, the Warriors, Curry and Thompson all lined up behind the defensive specialist, and Poole was traded a year later.
Thompson no longer felt respected
And even Klay Thompson, who was usually always in a good mood, began to become dissatisfied. The NBA star who delighted fans with his coolness and personable manner. Who liked to travel to the stadium by boat. Who once gave an interview to an unwitting reporter about scaffolding in New York. And whose best friend is his four-legged friend Rocco.
According to ESPN, Klay Thompson, one of the most important players on possibly the best team in NBA history, was unhappy. One reason for this was that he was no longer the same as before and his qualities were beginning to wane. But it was also because he did not feel respected to the same extent as Curry and Green, who both still have lucrative contracts, while Thompson did not receive a similar offer to the latter. He was hurt. That is why he signed in Dallas for around $50 million for three years.
“I’m glad he’s leaving.”
Draymond Green
The fact that Thompson was no longer happy at Golden State and was also suffering is shown by the fact that even Draymond Green said in his podcast: “I’m glad he’s leaving.” He didn’t mean that he didn’t want to play with him anymore – Green was visibly sad about Thompson’s departure. Rather, he wanted his friend to be happy. And that was apparently no longer possible with the Warriors.
The best NBA point scorers in history
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The best NBA point scorers in history
Rang 29: Charles Barkley (Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets): 23’757 Punkte. Stand: 12.04.2024.
source: ap ny / david j. phillip
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