Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr made it clear after Tuesday’s Play-In tournament loss to the Sacramento Kings what he thinks of veteran Klay Thompson.
“We need Klay back,” Kerr said. “I know he had a tough night tonight, but what he means to us, the spacing… Klay being there means a lot for the spacing on the floor, for the flow of the offense.”
Thompson was held scoreless in the Warriors’ 118-94 loss, which eliminated the team from the playoffs. Thompson, 34, who has spent his entire career with the Warriors, will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason. After the Play-In game, Stephen Curry said he would “never see himself without those two guys,” referring to Thompson and Draymond Green.
“He still has some good years left,” Kerr added. “And I know I speak for everyone in (the organization) – we want him back.
“What Klay has meant to this franchise, as good as he still is, we desperately want him back.”
Draymond Green, convinced the organization will prioritize Klay Thompson: “They did well for me. They did right by Steph. They did good to all of us. Klay tore his ACL and they gave him $160 million. pic.twitter.com/Px3jR74cQz
-Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) April 17, 2024
Thompson struggled mightily against Sacramento, going 0 of 10 from the field in 32 minutes. For the regular season, he averaged 17.9 points per game and shot 38.7 percent from 3. He has averaged 19.6 points per game in his career.
“I wouldn’t want to go anywhere else. Playing for one franchise, man? It’s so rare,” Thompson said Athleticism in October. “In any sport. Soccer. Baseball. Basketball. Australian Rules Football. Playing for just one club is insane. It’s truly legendary stuff. Even what Udonis Haslem did. He is revered in Miami. Locally. This is what I cherish.
“I travel the country, I go around the world and people in Northern California or Warriors fans in general are so proud of the Warriors. And I was here before the banners were hung. So in a way, it’s our baby. You want to get out of it. I’ve just been so lucky to be a part of this franchise. It would be so hard to imagine myself in any other uniform.
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What is the future of Klay Thompson after his 0 for 10?
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