After 13 seasons and four championships with the Golden State Warriors, shooting guard Klay Thompson has signed a three-year, $50 million deal with the Dallas Mavericks, ending an era in San Francisco.
Klay Thompson, the sharpshooting guard who played a pivotal role in the Golden State Warriors' four NBA championships in 13 seasons, has bid farewell to the Bay Area and signed with the Dallas Mavericks in a reported three-year, $50 million deal.
Thompson, 34, was in his first year of free agency after spending his entire career with the Warriors. Despite playing his most games since the 2018-19 season, Thompson's production declined slightly, averaging 17.9 points per game, his lowest since the 2012-13 campaign.
Klay Thompson Leaves Golden State, Signs with Dallas Mavericks
His 3-point percentage also dipped to 38.3%, the second time in his career he shot below 40% from beyond the arc. However, the Mavericks, who reached the NBA Finals this season, believe that Thompson's elite shooting ability can complement their star duo of Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving.
While some fans are excited about the prospect of Thompson joining the Mavericks, his father, Mychal Thompson, who played five seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers and is currently a broadcaster for the team, expressed disappointment that his son did not choose his former franchise.
Klay Thompson Leaves Golden State, Signs with Dallas Mavericks
"I'm really disappointed," Mychal Thompson said on SiriusXM. "Obviously, it's Klay's decision. It's his life. He's a grown man, but I was hoping that he would be a Laker."
Mychal Thompson admitted that he tried to recruit his son to the Lakers until the very end.
Klay Thompson Leaves Golden State, Signs with Dallas Mavericks
"This franchise has been so good to me and my family, including Klay," he said. "I just thought it seemed like it would be the perfect fit for him to finally come back home."
Thompson's departure from the Warriors marks the end of an era for the franchise. Alongside Stephen Curry, Thompson formed one of the greatest shooting tandems in NBA history, known as the "Splash Brothers." The duo helped lead the Warriors to six NBA Finals appearances and four championships.
Curry becomes the longest-tenured player on the Warriors' roster with Thompson's departure.
Thompson's 2,481 three-pointers made are the sixth most in NBA history. He is on pace to surpass Reggie Miller (fifth with 2,560) and could potentially catch Ray Allen (second with 2,973). Two active players, James Harden and Damian Lillard, are ahead of him in the all-time three-point rankings.
As Thompson begins a new chapter of his career in Dallas, the Warriors will look to fill the void left by his departure. With the addition of Dončić and Irving, the Mavericks have emerged as a contender in the Western Conference, and Thompson's shooting prowess could be the missing piece that pushes them to the top.
