The Golden State Warriors went in a different direction.
It happens.
This is a business first and foremost, and players will most likely get paid according to what they can give now and in the future and not based on what they did in the past.
Nonetheless, while all that is understandable, it still feels like the Warriors did wrong by Klay Thompson with the way they handled things.
Recently, former NBA star Kenyon Martin stated that Thompson probably felt disrespected by the Warriors because they gave Draymond Green a big contract even though his numbers weren’t better than Klay’s (via Gils Arena).
“You paid Draymond…I’m [Klay] a bucket, I’ve averaged more points than him, we don’t do none of this without me. And this is the thanks I get? It’s a slap in the face.”
Kenyon Martin on how Golden State disrespected Klay Thompson pic.twitter.com/wi2L4ZQzXt
— Gilbert Arenas (@GilsArenaShow) July 2, 2024
That’s true to a degree.
Green’s impact has always gone beyond the stat sheet, and while he also comes with a complicated history of insubordination and antics, he can still play some elite defense.
Thompson isn’t the player he used to be, and chances are that’s not going to change at this point in his career.
He had every right to do what was best for him and pursue a bigger deal somewhere else, just like the Warriors had every right to feel like this partnership wasn’t going to work in the future.
Sports are emotional, but decision-makers can’t always afford to factor emotion into these kinds of deals, which is exactly why Bob Myers decided it was better for him to step down.
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Fans Are Praising Warriors For Classy Gesture After Klay Thompson Leaves For Mavericks