Could we have seen the end of an era on Tuesday night in the NBA Play-In Tournament? The Golden State Warriors, who were defeated by the Sacramento Kings 118-94, have some major decisions to make this offseason.
The biggest one is Klay Thompson hitting free agency. Will the Warriors bring him back into the fold with a long-term deal, as they did with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green? Or will they allow him to hit the open market and sign with another franchise?
There is a lot that will go into the decision, whichever way Golden State ends up going. Thompson has been a key contributor for a long time, but it feels like the Warriors need to shake something up.
NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors Updates
After the game on Tuesday, his future was a major topic of discussion. Head coach Steve Kerr made it clear that he wants to see Thompson back in Golden State, which is a sentiment that Green shared as well.
Curry is on the same page. He was honest when talking about the Warriors’ Big 3 potentially breaking up, as it isn’t something he can even imagine happening.
“I could never see myself not with those two guys,” Curry said. “I understand this league changes and there are so many things that go into it and we’re not going to play forever, but we’ve experienced so much together and at the end of the day I know they want to win, I know I want to win, and that’s all I’m worried about.”
Emotions were high after the game, as the Warriors 2023-24 NBA season officially came to a close. If it was the last time Curry, Green and Thompson suited up as teammates, it certainly isn’t how they want to be remembered.
NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors Updates
Curry scored a team-high 22 points, as the Kings did a wonderful job of slowing him down. Thompson set an ugly Warriors’ franchise record, as his 10 misses without a make are the most in an NBA Playoff or Play-In game.
Despite that, Curry made sure to commend the job that Thompson did this season. He had to endure a lot, as his role changed and he had some struggles on the court which led to Kerr benching him in the fourth quarters at points in the season.
“It’s about commending him on a hell of a year,” Curry said of Thompson. “Everyone is going to talk about one game, and I know he wanted to do better. We go through so much over 82 games, and the fact that he was able to turn his season around with a new role and adjusting … just really having fun playing basketball and being at peace out there with it all, I’m more worried about that.”
The next few weeks will certainly be massive for the Warriors. As currently constructed, they aren’t close to contending for an NBA title, as they couldn’t even qualify for the playoff field. Some changes will have to be made or the twilight of Curry’s career could be spent in the lottery.
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