Breaking up is hard.
But sometimes, things take time. That was the case with Klay Thompson and the Golden State Warriors, who failed to come to terms on a new contract this offseason after 13 years and four NBA championships together.
Now Thompson is a Dallas Maverick and he’s ready to move on. The Mavericks introduced Thompson along with offseason acquisitions Quentin Grimes and Naji Marshall on Tuesday, and Thompson spoke to the media for the first time as a Maverick.
He He told reporters that “there were times last year that were difficult and not as joyful as in the past” in Golden State and declared that the separation was “necessary.”
“I was probably a little disappointed at first, but then as time goes on, you have a lot of time to reflect and you realize what you did,” Thompson said. “They can’t take that away from you when it comes to championships… the impact you have on the community. That will live on forever.”
“Sometimes breakups are necessary to do the right thing. I’m not the first NBA player to go through this.”
Klay Thompson was asked what it’s like to leave Golden State after 13 years:
“I was probably a little disappointed at first… sometimes breakups are necessary to do the right thing. I’m not the first NBA player to go through this.” image.twitter.com/6ENHZ8IY8K
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) July 9, 2024
Thompson cited Scottie Pippen’s transition from the Chicago Bulls to the Portland Trail Blazers late in his career as a comparison to his move to the Mavericks. Pippen won six championships during a Hall of Fame-worthy career in Chicago before spending his final six seasons with the Trail Blazers and Houston Rockets.
“I’m looking forward to getting younger here,” Thompson continued. “I still have a lot of basketball left in me.”
Thompson leaves a Warriors team that finished 10th in the West and failed to make it past the play-in round to join a Mavericks team that advanced to the NBA Finals. He’ll play alongside two of the most potent offensive weapons in basketball: Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving.
After being plagued by devastating ACL and Achilles injuries in recent seasons, Thompson believes joining the Mavericks “can spur greatness.”
“Whether you’re playing basketball or working in the corporate world or any other industry, sometimes change can fuel greatness,” Thompson said. “A change of scenery can do wonders. I’m very grateful for the time I spent in Golden State.”
He also talked about what drew him to Dallas.
“I just felt like moving forward could re-energize me and do something special for the rest of my career.” Thompson continued“Dallas was so attractive because of the young players they have, the style of play…”
“When I was watching the playoffs and the Mavs going for a championship, I saw myself fitting in really well with this team and their staff. They seem to have fun playing together and play for each other. That was really appealing to me.”