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"I completely understand": Steve Kerr reflects on Klay Thompson leaving Warriors for Mavericks in 2024 NBA Free Agency

Before he looked ahead toward coaching the U.S. Men’s Olympic team, Steve Kerr expressed various sentiments about Klay Thompson’s departure from the Golden State Warriors to the Dallas Mavericks.

Kerr thanked Thompson “for 13 incredible years” that included three NBA championships in five Finals appearances and five All-Star berths. Though Kerr had initially hoped for Thompson to play his whole NBA career in Golden State with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, the Warriors coach argued that Thompson made the right decision.

Steve Kerr on Klay Thompson's departure

“He gave me a really good description of his frame of mind. I completely understand,” Kerr said following practice on Saturday at UNLV. “Sometimes in life, we all need a shift. We need a fresh start, whatever it is. No matter what profession you’re in, sometimes you just need a change. That’s it. That’s the easiest part to describe why Klay is leaving.”

Thompson accepted a three-year, $50 million deal with Dallas for a few reasons. The Mavericks had the necessary assets to execute a sign-and-trade with multiple teams. Dallas advanced to its first NBA Finals in 13 years, thanks to Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and a stellar supporting cast.

Mychal Thompson told Sportskeeda that he tried to sell Klay on the Lakers by talking about his playing career, the late Kobe Bryant, Klay’s potentially strong fit with LeBron James and Anthony Davis as well as the city’s various harbors that he could park and ride his boat.

No matter. Klay joined a team with stronger odds to win an NBA title. Klay feigned off interest from the Lakers during his last free-agency period, too. That came from entirely different circumstances.

Thompson signed a five-year, $190 million max deal less than a month after tearing the ACL on his left knee in the Warriors’ decisive Game 6 loss to the Toronto Raptors in the 2019 NBA Finals. Leading into that time, Thompson said he wanted to become a “Warrior for life” after enjoying his status as the franchise’s most dependable two-way player.

After missing the entire 2019-20 season, however, Thompson then injured his right Achilles while playing pickup basketball just before the 2020-21 season started.

Thompson returned midway through the 2021-22 season to help the Warriors with an NBA title. Nonetheless, Thompson averaged 17.9 points while shooting 43.2% from the field and 38.7% from 3, far from his career averages from the field (45.3%) and from deep (41.3).

Thompson played 14 games off the bench while the Warriors leaned more on rookie guard Brandin Podziemski. And in his last game with the Warriors, Thompson scored zero points on 10 missed shots attempts, including six from 3, in the team’s Play-In loss to Sacramento.

“That’s really been the toughest thing for Klay dealing with the injuries and the aftermath,” Kerr said. “He’s out for two straight years, both were career-threatening injuries. Prior to that, Klay didn’t need a lot of counsel. The last couple of years, he has needed it because this has been so tough for him. I’m amazed at his ability to come back from those injuries to help us win another championship. To play at the level that he’s played at, it’s funny. People say he’s had a bad year. Look at his numbers. A lot of those guys with those numbers would sign for $200 million these days.”

The Warriors hardly offered that much. They offered Thompson a two-year deal worth $50 million before the 2023-24 season started. The Warriors remained intent on cutting costs while developing the team’s younger players. The Warriors cut costs last year too, but they prioritized their veterans over their young players. They retained Draymond Green on a four-year, $100 million shortly after dealing fourth-year guard Jordan Poole to Washington in a salary dump.

“I never had fantasies that this thing would go on forever for another five or six years and Steph, Klay and Dray would retire together and I would retire with them,” Kerr said. “There’s never been that thought. I’ve been around the league a long time, and whether it’s Chicago or other situations, it’s never easy when these things start to run out. But the biggest thing is that the relationships endure, the memories endure and Klay is going to have a statue outside Chase [Center] some day. He’ll be beloved by our teammates, coaches and our fans forever. It’s never easy. But I think it’ll all work out for everyone.”

Nonetheless, Kerr conceded that he has struggled to fully grasp his feelings surrounding Thompson’s departure.

“I can’t sit here in July and describe what my emotions are when nothing has happened yet,” Kerr said. “I normally didn’t see Klay [in the offseason]. Nobody saw him for three months. Then the first day of camp at Media Day, there he is and then we catch up. But it’ll be weird on Media Day when he’s not there.”

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