The 2023-24 NBA regular season has not been kind to Golden State Warriors star Klay Thompson, who has arguably lost a step or two over the past couple of years, and now it is starting to impact his role on the team.
Thompson headed into this season with an uncertain future as the two sides couldn’t see eye-to-eye on a contract extension, even though the team signed veteran forward Draymond Green to a four-year deal during the NBA offseason.
This has been a prove-it year for Thompson and things haven’t gone as planned as he is no longer the lockdown defender he once was and has been inconsistent as a scorer playing alongside superstar guard Stephen Curry.
At this point, all signs are pointing toward Thompson leaving the Warriors in NBA free agency this summer, as the team might be ready to move on while he might not be able to get the deal he wants in San Francisco.
In the meantime, matters got a bit worse for Thompson as he is no longer a starter for Golden State, which sparked quite a reaction from the veteran sharpshooter who yelled at head coach Steve Kerr, according to Kendra Andrews of ESPN via Legion Hoops.
“Thompson initially didn’t take the news well,” Kerr said. … “Later, he came back to apologize to the coaches.”
Steve Kerr says Klay Thompson yelled at him after benching:
“Thompson initially didn’t take the news well… Later, he came back to apologize to the coaches.”
(via @kendra__andrews, https://t.co/dgDrvPkSBO) pic.twitter.com/faxL8e0lz4
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) March 1, 2024
Thompson is averaging his lowest point total since his second season in the NBA at 17.5 points per game, shooting a career-worst 42% from the floor and a career-low 37.7% from beyond the arc.
Only time will tell how Thompson will adjust to this new role and whether it will help him get back to form as one of the best shooters in the game.
NEXT: Ayesha Curry Announces Major Family News