Klay Thompson, the Golden State Warriors’ point guard, has been contemplating the next measures he must take to save his sanity as an NBA player. At this point, it’s unclear whether he’ll continue to play for the team. It’s been a difficult couple of years since coming from the Achilles injury, and he doesn’t feel entirely back on top of his game. Klay Thompson understands that the end of his career is coming, and he wants to maintain that mindset in order to avoid being heartbroken when it happens. Thompson’s contract with the Warriors expires next summer. He is fully aware that the team may not offer him the deal he desires, but that does not bother him anymore.
Klay Thompson spoke up to Draymond Green on a recent podcast episode about how he’s felt in recent months. He stated, “Just smelling the roses and appreciating all the effort it took to get here. Having said that, when it comes to free agency in July, I simply have to keep that in mind. Yes, I want to re-sign with the Dubs, but I also need to prioritize my mental health and define what is important to me at this stage in my career. I know we have a lot of basketball ahead of us, so I haven’t given it much thought. Because if I start worrying about July 1, I am only doing myself a disservice. For me, it’s as simple as staying present. Staying present and enjoying being in the NBA.”
Klay also made sure he gave Green his flowers for the support he’s received from him, saying: “You helped me a lot when you told me,Lean into these young men, lean into the notion that you’re a vet, you’ve earned X amount of money, and you don’t have to worry about anything. You play for the love of the game. And I believe that once I realized that, I relaxed a little bit, rather than playing for a contract, an All-Star nod, or some other award, and instead played for the love of the game. I got to play cards with folks on the plane, and we were playing ping pong after the game last night, so we’re having a good time. That is the beauty of the game right there. I’m not looking to get another maximum agreement or endorsement.
