SAN FRANCISCO — The motivational message, courtesy of the good Larry Chook, got here on the good time.
Klay Thompson was only a few days faraway from the unwelcome begin of his sixth-man life in Utah, the place the 34-year-old Warriors legend had been requested to come back off the bench after the earlier 12 years as a starter. Even with Thompson’s spectacular debut on this new reserve position, a 35-point exhibiting on Feb. 15 that helped carry Golden State over the Jazz heading into the All-Star break, this was the type of career-changing choice that may take way more time to really settle for. The feelings have been nonetheless uncooked.
This was already a delicate state of affairs too, what with Thompson and the Warriors having been unable to come back to phrases on an extension in current months and his free company looming this summer season. And now, with all these existential questions on worth and mutual respect entrance and heart already, right here he was being requested to sacrifice for the higher good of the group.
An sudden morale enhance from the Basketball Gods, in different phrases, was badly wanted.
As Thompson would study by means of Warriors PR man Raymond Ridder, and would finally see for himself on that cellphone video that might be cherished and saved in his digital archives for all of time, Chook had spent a part of his All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis talking with nice admiration about him.
The remarks happened on the annual Tech Summit, the place Chook shared the stage with famed broadcaster Bob Costas for a wide-ranging basketball dialog that shifted in Thompson’s course when the Celtics nice was requested about which gamers he loved watching. Then Chook, who shared the NBA Finals stage with Klay’s father, Mychal, when the Lakers received all of it in 1987, waxed poetic in regards to the five-time All-Star who was lacking on the festivities for a fifth consecutive season.
“Klay Thompson has all the time been considered one of my favourite gamers,” Chook mentioned. “What an unimaginable shooter.”
Chook went on to share his recollections of Thompson’s unimaginable Dec. 5, 2016, efficiency in opposition to his Indiana Pacers during which he scored 60 factors in three quarters — whereas dribbling the ball simply 11 instances.
“How do you that, Bob?” Chook, who headed the Pacers entrance workplace on the time, mentioned to Costas as his voice rose in disbelief. “How do you do this? … That’s fairly unimaginable to me.”
For Thompson, who grew up in Los Angeles listening to all these tales in regards to the rivalry between Chook’s Celtics and the Showtime Lakers, the sight of Larry Legend talking with amazement about his profession for a grand whole of 37 seconds was nothing wanting profound. In any case, as these near him know, his need to really feel appreciated has been a central theme on this attempting season of change and self reflection.
“It’s very good to be reminded, particularly from somebody like Larry, who I not solely appeared as much as however who I heard about my complete life — particularly from my dad,” Thompson instructed The Athletic. “I watched the Showtime Lakers versus these Celtics groups, and it was only a actually cool factor to listen to. To listen to him going out of his approach to say that meant a lot to me. Ray despatched me the clip, and I’m gonna preserve that clip ceaselessly.”
As Thompson shared publicly back on Feb. 5 after a game at Brooklyn, when he was so sincere and weak about how exhausting this late-career transition to a lesser position has been, these previous few months have been an emotional curler coaster the likes of which he has by no means felt. It wasn’t the primary time he’d chosen to be so open about his fact, both, as he talked at size in early January in regards to the significance of him discovering a approach to maintain positive energy even when he’s struggling.
Thompson is hardly alone on the subject of this kind of crossroads, with future Corridor of Famers comparable to Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love and his Warriors teammate Chris Paul amongst those that made the shift to a reserve position sooner than anticipated lately. Andre Iguodala, in fact, went down in Warriors lore due to his willingness to make the transfer gracefully in 2014 en path to them successful three titles within the subsequent 4 seasons. Carmelo Anthony’s ill-fated last few years have been significantly much less profitable. For higher or worse, it’s a hoops story as outdated as time.
However given the temper of the second for Thompson, who misplaced these two seasons with ACL and Achilles accidents and labored his manner again with desires of returning to his All-Star degree, the Chook video was an help of types throughout an otherwise-challenging time. Particularly when the criticism, each in social and mainstream media, has turn into such a staple of his late-career expertise.
This newest chapter has gone principally properly, although, with Thompson including a dynamic dimension to the Warriors’ second unit that’s anticipated to welcome Paul again after his 21-game absence (fractured hand) Tuesday at Washington. That improvement alone — the notion of two future Corridor of Famers coming off the bench to share the backcourt — has Thompson excited in regards to the prospects right here.
Even within the video games the place Thompson’s photographs aren’t falling, like the house win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday during which he missed eight of 9 from the sphere however had a plus-2 score, the lifelong sharpshooter is being lauded for his potential to make an affect in different methods. His quick chemistry with younger massive man Trayce Jackson-Davis, particularly, has been a vivid spot.
There have been classic Klay moments already too, like his exhibiting in Salt Lake Metropolis and the 23-point first half in opposition to the Denver Nuggets on Sunday (although he went scoreless within the second half). In these first 4 video games on this new position, Thompson is fourth on the group in minutes (27.1 minutes per recreation), second in scoring (18.1 factors) and fourth in plus-minus (plus-13). Total this season, Thompson is averaging 17.1 factors (his lowest whole since his 2012-13 season) whereas on tempo for profession lows in total (41.8) and 3-point (37.2) capturing share.
The important thing revelation for the Warriors (29-27), who’ve received 10 of their final 13 video games whereas creeping again into Play-In Event territory, is that Thompson doesn’t see this new project as any kind of disqualifier on the subject of his Warriors future. And whereas Thompson plans on listening to pitches from different groups, it’s clear that staying put remains to be his most well-liked possibility — as long as he feels appreciated and revered in ways in which transcend the monetary issue.
“Probably not,” Thompson mentioned when requested if the sixth-man project may change his need to return. “I imply, you’ve nonetheless acquired to look at your whole choices, however I’d like to be a Warrior for all times. No matter occurs although, I’ve acquired a couple of extra years to play this recreation, so I’m gonna get pleasure from each second. I understand that I see mild on the finish of the tunnel, (and) I’m undecided if I wish to play till I’m 40, man. That sounds actually exhausting.”
That final half seems to qualify as a change of coronary heart, as Thompson had beforehand expressed a need to play till he was 40 in the summertime of 2019 (throughout his ACL restoration and earlier than his Achilles tendon tear). When requested to substantiate that this reserve position wasn’t a deal-breaker on the subject of him probably re-signing with the Warriors, he repeated the stance.
“Nah,” he mentioned.
But by way of the bigger-picture outlook, the actual fact stays that Thompson is the one member of the Warriors’ celebrated core whose contract state of affairs has not been resolved. Steve Kerr’s current extension (two years, $35 million) lined him up with Steph Curry (signed by the 2025-26 season), and Draymond Inexperienced acquired his four-year, $100 million deal final summer season. Even earlier than you dig into the private dynamics, with Thompson properly inside his proper to surprise if the Warriors really see him as a part of their future, that kind of contractual panorama is inevitably uncomfortable given all they’ve achieved collectively.
It hasn’t helped issues that the departure of longtime front-office head Bob Myers final summer season left a communication hole of types between Thompson and Warriors proprietor Joe Lacob behind the scenes. Publicly, Lacob has maintained a constant need for Thompson to stay. Even with the daunting luxurious tax ramifications that loom so massive.
Thompson all the time knew he would seemingly have to attend till his free company arrived this summer season, what with Lacob’s well-chronicled hopes of ducking beneath the second (and probably first) luxurious tax apron compelling them to let the roster panorama totally unfold earlier than including wage. But it surely’s clear their relationship has suffered some pressure alongside the best way, with league sources indicating that Thompson has acquired no assurances from on excessive that his hopes of retiring fortunately in a Warriors jersey sometime might be a shared precedence this summer season. Either side, it appears clear, haven’t any readability about what may occur when that point rolls round.
Within the right here and now, although, Thompson insists he’s in a superb place.
“I’m doing nice,” he mentioned. “I feel I’m doing significantly better in not placing my id in my efficiency, particularly after 11 years of NBA basketball. That alone is an unimaginable accomplishment. And to be out right here and nonetheless be enjoying and having enjoyable and being wholesome, that trumps any massive capturing evening or 50-40-90 milestones.
“It took me a very long time to appreciate that, however as soon as I lastly did, my recreation has been significantly better. I’ve been a lot extra comfy and realizing that, ‘Gosh, that is such a cool alternative for me.’ Guys would kill to be in my footwear, even with all of the accidents and all that. The heights we’ve reached are uncommon, so it’s been superior.”
With regards to how Thompson has been dealing with this transition, a fast journey across the Warriors locker room on Sunday evening yielded optimistic suggestions. Warriors massive man Kevon Looney, who began for a lot of the previous two years earlier than being moved to a reserve position in late January, made the purpose that the timing of all of it made it even harder for Thompson.
“I feel he’s dealing with it extraordinarily properly,” Looney instructed The Athletic. “I wasn’t positive how he was gonna deal with it, particularly in the course of the midseason. It wasn’t like (he had) a chat (with the coaches) in coaching camp, the place you’re capable of put together your self for one thing like that. It’s a midseason (choice), so I didn’t know the way he’d dealt with it.
“However he’s been greater than nice. He hasn’t been complaining. I feel that (facet) has in all probability been even higher. He confirmed his frustration early within the season … (however now) he’s been an important teammate, nice chief. And when considered one of your Corridor of Fame gamers exhibits that kind of management, all people has to type of observe swimsuit. No one could be mad about their position or the minutes they’re getting.”
With the necessity to maximize children Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski extra essential than ever, and the current outcomes validating that strategy, the Warriors’ roster is now stuffed with veterans who’re being requested to simply accept far totally different roles.
“You’ve acquired Klay, guys like CP and Wiggs (Andrew Wiggins), who’re bona fide Corridor of Famers and All-Stars, shopping for in like that, so all people else has to purchase in,” Looney mentioned. “(However) we will’t win with out him being good or with out him being a key piece. Whether or not that’s beginning or off the bench, we’re not contending with out him being particular.
“All of us care about him. All of us need him to succeed. All of us need him to be nice. So when he’s not doing properly or his vitality’s not nice, it type of weighs on all people else. He is aware of that. Steve talked to him about that (in early January), and I feel he’s been nice for the final 20, 30 video games. I feel that type of modified our season, modified the best way that we’ve been enjoying.”
Kerr, who as soon as persuaded Iguodala to embrace this sixth-man life and seems to have accomplished it but once more with Thompson, raved about his current dealing with of all of it as properly.
“He’s been nice,” Kerr mentioned. “His strategy feels so significantly better than it was even a couple of weeks in the past. This has been an emotional season for him. You guys know this. He’s been grappling together with his mortality in some methods as an athlete. He is aware of how good he was six years in the past, and he’s had a tough time reconciling every thing after the accidents.
“The factor that we preserve attempting to persuade him of is he’s nonetheless a hell of a participant. However he’s at his greatest when he’s not urgent and he’s not stressed (or) apprehensive about attempting to be the man he was six years in the past. I feel coming off the bench has possibly helped in that regard. I simply discover he’s extra relaxed. His strategy, his management within the locker room, it feels totally different, and I feel he’s beginning to get extra snug with the position but additionally simply type of the larger image stuff that has been bothering him.”
And on these days when the doubts and frustration may return, he’ll have the Chook video only a few display screen swipes away to carry his spirits.
“It’s on my telephone,” Thompson mentioned with a smile. “I’ll put that (praise) in the identical class as when Kobe (Bryant) known as me and Steph nice gamers with that killer intuition (in 2016). It means the world to me.”
(Picture of Klay Thompson: Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Photos)