Klay Thompson’s departure from Golden State ‘shocked’ me; Warriors star says

Klay Thompson’s departure from the Golden State Warriors is no less strange to his former teammates, even if it was inevitable. Thompson decided this summer to sign with the Dallas Mavericks after playing his entire career with the team that selected him 11th overall in the 2011 NBA draft.

Warriors player Jonathan Kuminga said he was somewhat surprised by Thompson’s departure. Thompson told ESPN’s Cassidy Hubbarth that he took the 21-year-old “under his wing.”

What did Jonathan Kuminga say?

Kuminga said: “I was a little shocked. Klay is someone who took me under his wing when I first got drafted. He was one of my role models when I was there. He always explained to me how the league worked and things like that. And obviously, we all know that in the league, the next day you can wake up and be somewhere else. Things move faster.”

Additionally, Kuminga said he was “happy for him at the end of the day” and that they continued to communicate. With the Warriors for 13 seasons, Thompson played 11 of them and missed two due to injuries. The 34-year-old decided to leave after his contract negotiations with the Warriors fell through.

Thompson’s departure will give Kuminga more playing time

While there were plenty of rumors about the Warriors making offers to Thompson, he decided to sign with the Mavericks instead of accepting anything from Golden State. The Los Angeles Lakers have also reportedly expressed interest in Thompson.

In 793 regular-season games with the Warriors, Thompson averaged 19.6 points on 45.3 percent shooting and 41.3 percent from three-point range. He averaged 19.2 points on 40.5 percent from three-point range in 158 playoff games, contributing significantly to the team’s remarkable dynasty.

With Thompson out of the picture, Kuminga, who had a breakout season in 2023-24, averaging 16.1 points and 4.8 rebounds on 52.9 percent shooting in 26.3 minutes per game during the regular season, could get even more playing time.

Can the Golden State Warriors win the NBA title next season without Thompson?

The Golden State Warriors have been smart in their recruitment since Klay Thompson left the franchise. However, that may not stop them from winning the title, as other teams seem much better equipped to challenge him. One of the early favorites for the title is Dallas Maverick after Thompson’s arrival.

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