The Golden State Warriors’ 118-94 road loss to the Sacramento Kings Tuesday night might not have just ended the Dubs’ title aspirations in the 2023-24 NBA season but also signaled the true end of the franchise’s most successful era. A lot of that has to do with the future of Klay Thompson.
The Warriors sniper did not look like a shooter at all in the loss to the Kings, as he missed all of his 10 attempts from the field, including six bricks from downtown to finish with a grand total of zero points. It shouldn’t be how Thompson’s career with the Warriors ends, but it’s not entirely in his control. He is a pending free agent, and Golden State might have to make the tough decision of not trying to re-sign him and let him walk away to free agency.
Charles Barkley Gets Real on Golden State Warriors Star Klay Thompson’s Diminishing Powers
After watching the Warriors lose to Sacramento and Thompson put up one of the worst postseason performances by a star, NBA legend and Basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley provided a painful outlook for the 34-year-old Golden State shooting guard.
“He’s not gonna get better. He’s gonna make less money but he ain’t gonna get no better. Older people don’t get — sports ain’t for old people. They’re for young people.”
Thompson, who signed a five-year, $189.9 million deal with Golden State back in 2019, has his basketball powers diminished by serious injuries to his ACL and Achilles tendon.
For what it’s worth, some of the Warriors expressed their support for the idea of Thompson continuing to play for the Dubs.
“We need Klay back ,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr told reporters after the loss to Sacramento, per Kendra Andrew of ESPN. “He’s still got good years left. And I know I speak for everybody in the organization: We want him back. … What Klay has meant to this franchise and as good as he still is, we desperately want him back.”
“I’ve watched him the last couple years fighting the feeling of devastation from injuries and I watched him this season flip his season around,” Kerr added. “I saw him enjoy the second half of the season and play with a little more freedom and joy, so tonight was tough to see him struggle.”
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