Klay Thompson’s 11th NBA season hasn’t gone according to plan. The Golden State Warriors' star three-point shooter is shooting a career-worst percentage from beyond the arc, and the Warriors have slumped to a 16–17 start that has them on the fringes of the Western Conference playoff race.
But after a win Tuesday against the Orlando Magic, Thompson revealed a recent conversation with coach Steve Kerr that has changed his outlook and approach for his trying season.
John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
Kerr wanted Thompson, who at times has looked incredibly frustrated on the court and in media appearances over his struggles, to channel his disappointment more positively. Clearly, his message resonated.
“Steve [Kerr] and I had a great conversation yesterday, and that helped me relax a lot,” Thompson said. “You want to get back to [championships and All-Star games] so badly that you can kind of get in your own way, and rather than forcing it, we had a conversation about just enjoying this last chapter of my career and how lucky I truly am to still be playing this game.”
Pretty revealing Klay Thompson postgame soundbite about a conversation he had with Steve Kerr yesterday regarding the need to improve his negative energy, be a better mentor and enjoy the last chapter of his career rather than obsess over stats/performance pic.twitter.com/a9wIxhnkGh
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) January 3, 2024
Thompson said the conversation helped him forget about shooting splits or points per game, instead appreciating what he and the rest of the Warriors’ core has built over a long period of time.
“It’s such a rare opportunity for any professional athlete to be apart of so much success,” Thompson said. “[I want to] pass that torch to the young guys and keep this thing going.”
While the message wasn’t a complicated one, it clearly made plenty of people think. NBA fans loved Kerr’s outlook and Thompson’s candor about his own personal struggles.
The curtain eventually closes on every great championship run.
— NBABeau (@NBABeau) January 3, 2024
We may be getting to that point with these Warriors and if that is true, I really hope they go out with this sort of class and dignity.
They’ve been an inspiration to a world of basketball fans. https://t.co/19zzPrOQQt
Folks will clown warriors fans, deservedly in a lot of cases, but 99% of y’all will never experience following a core from start to finish for this long and with this much success so y’all will never know what they mean to the fanbase. https://t.co/9JHjyiGnUh
— #1 Seed 🇵🇭 (@ISAAC4O8) January 3, 2024
This is such a great introspective look by Klay and Steve. I’m not convinced this is where we are at with Klay just yet, and he may not be saying he’s there but that day is coming and getting your mind right about it can only help find your place when it is that time. https://t.co/L9uluv5r0c
— r/Warriors 🏆 (@GSWReddit) January 3, 2024
I know Kerr was crying because I am right now https://t.co/LGw2eHhPjz
— Nai (@_Nai_Roy) January 3, 2024
There has to be a strong trust between a coach and player to have this conversation. I can imagine it’s not easy coaching an aging star https://t.co/4h671UUevB
— Kyle W (@K_Williamsmedia) January 3, 2024
For every 100 postgame pressers with boring questions and cliche answers, we get one like this that makes them all worth it https://t.co/4bHVACM68A
— Adam Scherer (@ShipMyMoneyDFS) January 3, 2024
