Things have been rocky for four-time NBA champion Klay Thompson since leaving the Golden State Warriors.
Widely considered one of the greatest shooters in league history, Thompson is determined to finish his career on a winning note. He recently gave insight into his decision to leave the Dallas Mavericks and join the Miami Heat.
Klay Thompson Explains Decision To Join Miami Heat
While speaking at his introductory press conference, Thompson cited his desire to win by joining the Heat. He said, “Just the opportunity to play high-level basketball throughout the season and the chance to make a deep postseason run. Those things were so attractive to me. I’ve tasted winning before, and there’s really nothing like it.”
Thompson joins a Heat organization looking to return to the NBA Finals after acquiring superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks. The Heat moved All-Star guard Tyler Herro in the trade.
The Heat also lost All-Star Norman Powell in free agency, so Thompson could play a significant role for the Heat this upcoming season. However, the idea of Thompson finishing his career outside of the Bay Area still seems surreal to many fans.
Thompson spent 13 seasons with the Warriors, winning four championships and making five All-Star teams. He formed the most explosive shooting backcourt in league history with Stephen Curry.
However, his career essentially changed when he tore his left ACL in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals. Just as Thompson was recovering from knee surgery, he suffered a torn Achilles tendon.
When Thompson finally returned to the court, there were still plenty of great moments, such as making 300 three-pointers during the 2022-23 season, but it was also clear Thompson was declining.
Known as one of the top defensive shooting guards in the league during his prime, Thompson was no longer elite on that end and even moved to a bench role for a period of time.
Eventually, Thompson decided to part ways with The Warriors and head to Dallas in 2024, joining what he believed was a championship contender built around Luka Dončić.
However, things quickly turned sour when the Mavericks traded Dončić in one of the most shocking trades in recent memory. Thompson continued to battle inconsistency, and things completely fell apart last season.
Primarily used in a bench role, Thompson had the worst season of his career, averaging 11.7 points per game, while shooting 39.3% from the field. He also spent most of last season on the trading block.
Thompson knew he needed a fresh start, which is why he was willing to give up $9.8 million of his projected $17.5 million salary to leave the Mavericks organization and join the Heat.
Thompson is eager to show the NBA world that he can still contribute to a championship contender and finish his career on top.
