The Golden State Warriors gave Klay Thompson a massive 5-year, $190 million contract when his future with the organization was very up in the air.
Over the past few seasons, he has been quite open about how much that vote of confidence meant to him.
Heading into 2022-23, Thompson is set to make $40.6 million. Next year he will get $43.2 million. From there things become far less certain.
This week, Thompson spoke openly about his long-term prospects with the only franchise he has ever known in his professional career.
“I’m just going to do what I got to do to be the best I can be every day,” Thompson told Mark Medina of NBA.com.
“I’m going to be a great player. I know what I’m capable of. I fully expect to earn another NBA contract, whether it’s this summer or next summer. I’m fully confident in my abilities. I’m not worried about an extension in the meantime because I know it’ll happen if I just do my job and I just be myself.”
This is going to be a crucial campaign for Thompson. Last season he was obviously still recovering from the health woes that kept him out for two years. He was productive, but the rust was also apparent. He was not the player he was prior to getting hurt.
If Thompson returns to form in 2022-23, he will have little trouble securing an extension that will keep him in The Bay for so long as Stephen Curry is there. It won’t be a Draymond Green situation.
That said, if Thompson struggles – his future suddenly becomes a lot more questionable. His inability to get along with players that Warriors brass clearly view as pivotal to the organization’s future also doesn’t help.
Yikes Russell Wilson. https://t.co/vTv0Vo8OJI
— Game 7 (@game7__) October 18, 2022
Thompson is rapidly approaching a focal point in his NBA career.
Where will he ultimately go from here?
Time will tell.
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Jennifer Withers Hoey is a former Business Development Manager who transitioned to writing about sports. With valuable connections all over the West Coast, she has used those contacts to break some of the most interesting stories pertaining to the Portland Trail Blazers, Oregon Ducks, LA Lakers, LA Clippers, Seattle Supersonics (RIP), and more.
