Steph Curry Sends Message to Klay Thompson After Warriors Departure

Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry paid tribute to his “Splash Brother” and now former teammate Klay Thompson by posting a series of photos of their best moments on his Instagram Story.

“I’m gonna miss you (Klay Thompson),” Curry wrote. “Even though we don’t finish the journey together, what we did will never be done again. I couldn’t have imagined a better journey with you and (Draymond Green). You changed the entire Bay Area. You changed the way the game is played. Killa Klay (is) at the center of it all. Thanks for everything, bro. Go out there, enjoy the game of basketball and what you do. Splash Bros 4 life, bro.”

Steph Curry pays tribute to Klay Thompson via his IG story 🥹🥹🥹

“Thanks for everything my brother. Have fun playing basketball and doing what you do.” pic.twitter.com/ZtiI0rRBde

— TheWarriorsTalk (@TheWarriorsTalk) July 2, 2024

On July 1, Thompson’s 13-year partnership with Curry and Green ended when he agreed to a sign-and-trade deal to join the Dallas Mavericks for a three-year, $50 million deal as widely reported.

According to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, Thompson essentially asked Curry not to use his influence with Warriors ownership to bring him back for the contract he felt he deserved.

“Don’t ask them to do the right thing for me financially. I want them to do it, do it themselves.” That’s a paraphrase, obviously,” Slater said on 95.7 The Game’s “The Morning Roast” on July 2.

Klay Thompson ‘felt slighted’

Tensions between Thompson and the Warriors have been mounting since negotiations last year.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Thompson felt disrespected because the Warriors only offered him half of what Draymond Green received.

“The Warriors offered Thompson a two-year, $50 million extension before last season, but he declined and reportedly walked away feeling slighted just months after Green was re-signed to a four-year, $100 million deal,” Stein wrote in his June 29 Substack newsletter.

But Thompson didn’t help his cause as he had his worst shooting season since his sophomore year.

Thompson, 34, averaged 17.9 points per game on 43.2 percent shooting and 38.7 percent from three-point range. His struggles prompted Warriors coach Steve Kerr to bench him for the first time in his career.

Shannon Sharpe, co-host of ESPN’s “First Take,” said Thompson had no right to be upset about the Warriors’ offer last offseason.

“Most companies and teams say, ‘No, bro. I’m giving you what I think you can do in the future. I’ve already paid you for what you’ve done in the past!’” Sharpe said.

Sharpe referred to the Warriors giving Thompson his full $189.9 million maximum extension on his last deal despite missing two seasons with a torn Achilles tendon and ACL.

.@ShannonSharpe don’t think Klay Thompson was shortchanged by the Warriors.

“I already paid you for what you wanted to say. Remember I gave you those four years, $140 million, and two of those years you missed?” pic.twitter.com/2H7uTEDZOU

— First Take (@FirstTake) July 1, 2024

Warriors vow to retire Klay Thompson’s jersey

The Warriors released a heartfelt statement, vowing to retire Thompson’s jersey when his basketball career is over.

“Klay’s legacy will live on forever and we look forward to the day we can retire his No. 11 jersey at Chase Center, where he will join a host of Warriors immortals, including those who helped shape this recent dynasty, including himself,” the team’s statement read.

Thompson joins a Mavericks team that fell three wins short of a title last season. That weighed heavily in his decision to prove to the Warriors that he’s still a key part of a title-contending team.

“We thank Klay for his contributions and wish him the best as another chapter of his journey begins,” the team’s statement concluded.