Klay Thompson is a Warriors legend: Forgive him if his ego got a little bruised on the way out

Whatever degree of resentment Klay Thompson has toward the Golden State Warriors as his historic run with the organization has come to an end is understandable. That doesn’t mean it’s justified, but it’s at least understandable. He was always the easiest component of the dynasty to mention last, if only for the fact that every other principle had a more uniquely identifiable value. 

Stephen Curry was the best player. Draymond Green was the best defender. Kevin Durant was the hired gun. Steve Kerr was the coach that flipped the entire offensive system, and in doing so, took a team that won 51 games and lost in the first round under Mark Jackson and turned it into a 67-win team that won Golden State’s first championship in 40 years. Even Andre Iguodala was seen as the heart of the “Death Lineup.”

Thompson is probably the second greatest shooter ever, but he was never the best shooter on his own team. He was a great defender, but never the best defender on his own team. Insecurity can be a great athlete’s greatest fuel, but when Thompson’s standing within the only organization that he’s ever known began to mirror the decline of his game, we saw that it can go the other way, too. 

He tried to say he doesn’t care what people say, but he heard the talk. He was bristly with reporters. He made sure Devin Booker, along with the rest of the world, knew how many championship he’s won. He watched Jordan Poole and Green get a combined $240 million in contract extensions while reportedly turning down the two-year, $48M deal he was offered last summer. 

Now, he’s reportedly signing with the Dallas Mavericks for $50M over three years, which is significantly less than what Golden State once offered on an annual basis. There’s an astute line in the movie Moneyball where Peter Brand, played by Jonah Hill, says to Billy Beane, played by Brad Pitt, that the record-breaking deal offered to Beane by the Red Sox isn’t actually about the money. It’s about what the money says. 

“That you’re worth it.”

Over the last two years, the Warriors, no matter what…

Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/klay-thompson-is-a-warriors-legend-forgive-him-if-his-ego-got-a-little-bruised-on-the-way-out/

Author : Brad Botkin

Publish date : 2024-07-01 21:28:29

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