Warriors Coach Affirms Desire to Re-Sign Klay Thompson
In the aftermath of the Golden State Warriors’ premature playoff elimination, head coach Steve Kerr wasted no time addressing the burning question surrounding Klay Thompson’s impending free agency. Despite Thompson’s scoreless outing in the Play-In Tournament loss to the Sacramento Kings, Kerr emphatically declared the franchise’s desire to retain the veteran sharpshooter’s services.
“We need Klay back,” Kerr stated, acknowledging Thompson’s offensive struggles while simultaneously underscoring his invaluable impact on floor spacing and offensive flow. “What he represents for us, the spacing… Klay’s presence means so much to the spacing on the floor, to the flow of the offense.”
At 34 years old, Thompson is slated to hit the open market as an unrestricted free agent this offseason, following a celebrated 11-year tenure with the Warriors that includes three NBA championships. However, Kerr’s comments leave little doubt about the organization’s intentions.
“He’s still got good years left,” Kerr affirmed. “And I know I speak for everybody 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.”
Kerr’s sentiments echo those of Thompson’s fellow “Splash Brother” Stephen Curry, who recently expressed his desire to continue playing alongside Thompson and Draymond Green, the remaining core members of Golden State’s dynastic run.
Draymond Green, for his part, exuded confidence in the Warriors’ front office, citing their track record of rewarding loyal veterans. “They did right by me. They’ve done right by Steph. They’ve done right by all of us. Klay tore his ACL and they gave him $160 million dollars.”
Despite his shooting woes against Sacramento, Thompson remains a potent offensive force, having averaged 17.9 points per game on 38.7% shooting from deep during the regular season. His career numbers of 19.6 points per contest and 41.9% accuracy from three-point range further underscore his elite marksmanship.
More importantly, Thompson’s value extends far beyond statistics. As a foundational piece of the Warriors’ culture and identity, his potential departure would represent a seismic shift for a franchise that has prided itself on continuity and player retention.
In a league where player movement has become increasingly commonplace, Thompson’s steadfast loyalty to the Warriors has been a rare commodity. As he candidly expressed to The Athletic in October, “I wouldn’t want to go anywhere else. To play for one franchise, man? That’s so rare.”
With the Warriors’ championship window still open, retaining Thompson’s services appears to be a top priority this offseason. As the free agency period looms, all eyes will be on the Warriors’ efforts to keep their beloved sharpshooter in the Bay Area for years to come.