Klay Thompson has long left the Golden State Warriors camp and has even settled in with his new team, the Dallas Mavericks.
But nobody really knew what went on inside the Bay Area Team’s locker room, which led the longtime Warrior to think otherwise.
Thompson and the officials involved finally pulled the trigger on July 6, 2024, through a trade. The ‘six-team sign and trade’ sent him to the Mavericks after spending 13 years with the Golden State Warriors.
However, San Francisco Standard’s Tim Kawakami recently shared the details of what happened behind the doors.
According to him, Thompson’s Warriors exit might have been fueled by growing tension with teammate Jordan Poole.
“I’ve heard this more and more that Klay was not comfortable with this guy pushing him and pushing him and pushing him. And Klay thought, ‘I’ve earned this starting role. Why is this guy keep saying that he should be the starter?’” he said.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NBA stories via Google! Follow Us
“And not publicly, maybe, so much as just in the way he carried himself. And that’s fine for a young player, but they couldn’t keep that guy, who got punched by Draymond, not his fault, and who was making things tense with Klay. So that’s Jordan. Whatever we think about where his career is now, I wouldn’t put that on Kerr,” he added.
Although, this issue was never openly reported earlier. But now we know what could have led to the outcome.
Klay Thompson Left Off Where Jordan Poole Started
What marked the very beginning for Jordan Poole at the Warriors camp resulted in an end to Klay Thompson’s tenure.
Poole’s arrival in the Golden State was a significant turning point for the Warriors. It particularly impacted Klay Thompson’s standing within the franchise.
Drafted 28th overall in 2019, Poole quickly made his mark, earning crucial minutes in a backcourt that was going through ups and downs. As Thompson struggled with injuries, missing two and a half seasons, Poole’s ascent became increasingly noticeable.
Jordan Poole re-unites with his former Warriors teammates
— Preston Evernham (@prestonevernham) July 5, 2024
(Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Jonathan Kuminga, etc.) pic.twitter.com/VDpdFm1pIR
He began believing he deserved a starting position alongside Stephen Curry, especially as he delivered strong performances.
The 2021-22 season saw Golden State off to a roaring start with an 18-2 record. And it was largely fueled by the effectiveness of the Curry-Poole backcourt.
However, when Thompson returned later that season, the dynamics shifted back to the familiar structure, with Thompson reclaiming his starting role. This transition had a lasting impact on Poole, igniting ambition and creating tension between him and Thompson.
Also Read: NBA Fans Get Emotional As Klay Thompson Mourns Loss Of Beloved Dog Rocco After 13 Years By His Side
