Joe Lacob Sends 5 Strong Words Message to Klay Thompson After Leaving the Warriors
When addressing Klay Thompson’s departure from the Golden State Warriors to join conference rival Dallas Mavericks, owner Joe Lacob broke down in tears.
Despite being overpowered by emotions, Lacob’s competitive fire automatically emerged.
“I don’t care what people think happened, or didn’t happen,” Lacob stated on “The Athletic NBA Show” on July 17. “He’ll always be welcome in my life. I hope he feels the same way. Honestly, that makes me teary-eyed. I hope we’ll be buddies forever. And he’ll just be in Dallas for a few years, so we’ll have to kick his ass. However, this is simply part of the work. And I’m certain he feels the same way. That’s referred to as competition.
Thompson went for the Mavericks via sign-and-trade, with the Warriors assisting to obtain more than the midlevel exception. Still, the three-year, $50 million contract he signed with the Mavericks, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, had a lower yearly average pay than the Warriors’ original offer last winter, which he turned down.
Last season’s contract discussions strained Thompson’s relationship with the Warriors, leading to his turbulent last season with the team.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Thompson felt humiliated since the Warriors offered him only half of what Draymond Green earned.
“Thompson was offered a two-year extension in the $50 million range by the Warriors before last season but passed on that pitch and is said to have come away from the offer feeling disrespected mere months after Green was re-signed to a four-year, $100 million pact,” Stein wrote in his Substack newsletter on June 29, 2018.
‘It never ends well.’
Thompson’s departure marked the end of an era that shaped the NBA’s last ten years. Thompson, together with Stephen Curry and Green, formed the foundation of the Warriors dynasty, which won four NBA titles.
“Bob Myers would say this all the time. “He’d say, it never ends well,” Lacob added. “It’s simply unfortunate business. It’s just the way it is; things get in the way and circumstances take precedence. And so it’s been a really tough process — his injury, his recovery from the injury, the fact that he didn’t play for two and a half years of his five-year deal and then came back and fought extremely hard to get here. All I can say is that we love him. We’re definitely going to create a statue for this guy after they’re all retired.”
Myers, the Warriors’ previous general manager, resigned last year, claiming a lack of ability to devote his full attention to the club. But he also knew the end was nigh, and he didn’t want to be the one who broke up the team he’d formed.
According to ESPN, Thompson departed the Warriors unhappy with his dwindling position. Last season, the five-time All-Star wing failed to find consistency, prompting Steve Kerr to make the difficult choice to bench him. While Thompson reclaimed his starting role at the conclusion of the season, his 0-for-10 shooting in the team’s elimination game against the Sacramento Kings served as a stinging reminder of a failed season and cause.
