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Klay Thompson left the Golden State Warriors in free agency this offseason to sign with the Dallas Mavericks, putting a bow on a stellar 13-year run with the team that saw Klay make five All-Star teams and win four NBA Championships.
Team owner Joe Lacob recently shared a revelation he had about Klay’s departure and provided some interesting insight into the behind-the-scenes process.
According to The Athletic’s Tim Kawakami, Lacob had an interesting quote about Klay leaving the Warriors, saying “But you know, to be frank and honest, Klay made the decision prior to the beginning of free agency and he informed us of it that his intention was to not come back.”
Joe Lacob on Klay Thompson’s departure from Warriors:
“But you know, to be frank and honest, Klay made the decision prior to the beginning of free agency and he informed us of it that his intention was to not come back.”
(via @timkawakami) pic.twitter.com/iDKD4QqYWp
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) July 27, 2024
That’s far from a storybook ending for one of this generation’s most storied players, as after all the ups and downs from the championships to the injuries, Thompson decided privately that he was ready to move on and let ownership know ahead of free agency.
It seemed obvious from a fan’s perspective that Klay was on his way out as the free agency period had begun, but it didn’t appear to be set in stone quite like this.
Thompson will chase a fifth ring alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, who are fresh off a trip to the Finals where they lost in five games to the Boston Celtics, the same team Klay defeated two years ago to win ring No. 4.
It will take time to get used to seeing him in a different uniform, but Thompson seems to have been the driving force behind this move and took it upon himself to decide his time in The Bay was up.
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