SAN FRANCISCO — The breakup of the Golden State Warriors dynasty wasn’t just a roster change; it was a cultural earthquake in the NBA. For months, fans have debated why Klay Thompson, a four-time champion and one-half of the greatest shooting backcourt in history, would leave the only franchise he ever knew for the Dallas Mavericks.
Was it money? Was it role reduction? Was it ego?
According to his longtime teammate and brother-in-arms Draymond Green, it was none of those things. In a raw and emotional revelation that has peeled back the curtain on the dynasty’s final days, Green admits that Klay Thompson didn’t leave because he wanted to; he left because he had to.
“It Wasn’t Klay Anymore”
Speaking candidly about the departure, Green revealed the painful reality of watching his friend struggle over the last year. It wasn’t just about missed shots or slower defensive rotations—it was about a man who had completely lost his joy.
“I knew the pain he was in,” Green said. “That last year he was here, it wasn’t Klay. He didn’t have his same joy. He didn’t have everything that made Klay, Klay.”
Green described a heartbreaking transformation where Thompson, known for his laid-back demeanor and love for the ocean, became consumed by frustration and self-doubt. The weight of expectations, combined with the trauma of two consecutive career-threatening injuries (a torn ACL and a ruptured Achilles), had taken a toll that no contract could fix.
“Watching your brother struggle like that… not play-wise, but struggle with what he feels about himself… to me, that was hard,” Green admitted.
The Cold Shoulder from Management
While Green focused on the emotional toll, new details have emerged about the “cold” business side that pushed Thompson toward the exit. Despite helping the team win a surprising fourth title in 2022, Thompson was reportedly left feeling undervalued and disrespected by the front office.
Reports indicate that while teammates like Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins received massive extensions, Thompson was left waiting. When the Warriors finally did offer a deal, it was a two-year, $48 million contract—significantly less than what his resume commanded.
But it wasn’t just the numbers; it was the silence. Sources describe a negotiation process led by owner Joe Lacob that was “distant” and “silent.” In one particularly damning anecdote, Thompson reportedly went golfing with Lacob during the summer, hoping to clear the air, but his contract wasn’t mentioned once.
“Tell him to pay me my money,” Thompson reportedly told former player Richard Jefferson at a holiday party, a rare crack in his usually stoic armor.
A Brother’s Sacrifice
Perhaps the most touching part of Green’s revelation is his own reaction to the news. When Thompson finally called him to say he was leaving for Dallas, Green didn’t try to talk him out of it. He didn’t beg for one last run.
“No part of me wanted to try to talk him into staying,” Green said. “Because I knew he needed that so much for him.”
Green realized that for Thompson to rediscover the player and person he used to be, he needed a fresh start. He needed to escape the shadow of his past self in Golden State.
“The most important thing for me as his brother is for him to feel like Klay Thompson,” Green stated. “Sometimes breakups are necessary.”
“Why Are You Here?”
The split hasn’t been easy for anyone involved. Stephen Curry, the other third of the legendary trio, admitted that he “wishes Klay was still here.” He shared a gut-wrenching moment involving his son, Canon, who saw a Mavericks game on TV and asked, “Klay’s plane, why are you here?”—unable to comprehend why his dad’s best friend was wearing a different uniform.
Yet, despite the distance, the bond seems stronger than ever. Green revealed that he talks to Thompson more now than he did when they were teammates, often chatting for hours about life. They recently reunited for a weekend in Dallas, playing chess and golf, reconnecting as friends rather than coworkers.
The End of an Era
Klay Thompson is now a Dallas Maverick, playing for less money than the Warriors offered, but perhaps with more peace of mind. He left the ocean—his sanctuary—for a landlocked city, a symbolic move that proves how desperate he was for a reset.
Draymond Green’s comments serve as a final, bittersweet eulogy for the trio. They proved that true brotherhood isn’t about clinging to the past, but having the courage to let go when it’s what your family needs to survive.
“Our names are synonyms,” Green said. And he’s right. You can remove Klay Thompson from the roster, but you can never write the story of the Warriors without him.
