The Golden State Warriors and Klay Thompson have officially parted ways, with the four-time NBA champion embarking on a new journey with the Dallas Mavericks. A number of factors led to this situation, but a recent article by Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe reveals that the driving force behind the split was the stark difference between Thompson's self-perception and the Warriors' perception.
“More information is emerging about why Klay Thompson left the Warriors for the Mavericks, but it appears there was blame on both sides,” Washburn wrote. “Thompson felt he was pretty much the same player he was before, despite missing two seasons with injuries, but the Warriors disagreed. Thompson felt he should have been compensated with a four-year contract on par with Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins, especially since neither of them lived up to their contracts.”
That's not too surprising, as Thompson has had to have numerous conversations with Warriors head coach Steve Kerr about focusing on the present and appreciating who he is now, rather than dwelling on his past.
Klay Thompson's postgame comments were pretty revealing about the conversation he had with Steve Kerr yesterday, where he talked about how he needs to channel his negative energy, become a better leader and enjoy the final chapter of his career instead of obsessing over stats and performance. pic.twitter.com/a9wIxhnkGh
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) January 3, 2024
As Thompson begins to thrive with the Mavericks, it appears he will benefit from the lack of reminders of his former playing days. This idea has been reported in a number of outlets, and it makes a lot of sense.
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