NBA Champion Klay Thompson will join the Mavericks

Four times NBA Champion Klay Thompson is expected to be moved to the Dallas Mavericks, the NBA 2024 finalists, as he prepares to leave the Golden State Warriors.

In Short

While playing with the Golden State Warriors, Thompson won four NBA championships.
For the Warriors, Thompson’s No. 11 jersey will be retired.
Thompson is expected to be sent to the Mavericks of Dallas.

NBA Champion Klay Thompson will join the Mavericks

According to several rumors, four-time NBA champion Klay Thompson decided to sign a sign-and-trade agreement with the Dallas Mavericks, ending the historic championship chapter of his career with the Golden State Warriors.

The Warriors honored Thompson for his contributions to their legendary run in a statement released Monday night. They also vowed to retire Thompson’s No. 11 jersey at some point. The Warriors would not disclose the specifics of the deal.

The 34-year-old Thompson, who won four NBA titles alongside Steph Curry in 13 seasons with the Warriors, declined a two-year, $48 million contract extension offer last season.

According to ESPN, Thompson will sign a $50 million, three-year contract to play with All-Star guards Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic for the Mavericks. Last month, Dallas was defeated by the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals. The Mavericks have acknowledged that they are sending Josh Green to the Charlotte Hornets as part of the three-team transaction.

Dallas will send the Warriors two second-round selections and a financial trade exception, according to reports from ESPN and The Athletic. The Warriors may bring up the exception while discussing trades involving versatile forwards. Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen is apparently much sought after by Golden State.

Thompson, who was selected 11th overall in the 2011 NBA Draft out of Washington State, is a five-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection. He has never played for another NBA team. In his news conference to open Team USA training camp last month, Warriors coach Steve Kerr stated that Golden State “desperately” wanted Thompson to come back.

Klay Thompson’s NBA records most points scored in a quarter (37), and most 3-pointers hit in a game (14), were highlighted in the Warriors’ statement on Monday night. “We can’t overstate Klay Thompson’s incredible and legendary contributions with the Warriors during his 13 years with the team,” the statement said.

“It is impossible to overstate the great satisfaction and excitement that Klay brought to Bay Area locals, Warriors fans, and Dub Nation followers worldwide. His tendency to perform well under duress on the greatest stage—many heroics in Game 6 included—has helped shape a career. Klay will always be remembered, and we eagerly await the day when we can retire his #11 jersey at Chase Center, where he will be among many other Warriors legends, including those who, like him, contributed to the formation of the current dynasty.

“We thank Klay for his contributions and wish him the best as another chapter in his journey is written.”

Thompson averaged 19.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game while playing with Golden State. He was a career 41.3 percent 3-point shooter. Last season, he averaged 17.6 points per game, which was his lowest total since 2013–14 (18.4 points per game). Last season, he had the second-lowest 3-point shooting percentage of his career at 38.7 percent.

Thompson came off the bench for a portion of the previous campaign. He averaged 19.8 points and shot 43 percent from three-point range in 14 games as a substitute.

According to reports, Golden State and 26-year-old guard De’Anthony Melton of the 76ers reached a one-year, $12.8 million agreement on Monday.

In addition to signing a three-year, $27 million contract with free agency Naji Marshall, Dallas also acquired Quentin Grimes as part of the June 28 transaction that sent Tim Hardaway Jr. to the Detroit Pistons.