Is Klay Thompson taking his exit from the Golden State Warriors well? Change is never easy, especially after dedicating 13 years of an NBA to a single franchise, building deep friendships along the way. According to an ESPN report, Thompson felt “miserable” and “disrespected” during his final season with the Warriors. He was often replaced by Brandin Podziemski in the starting role. “To be treated the way he was treated this last year-and-a-half or so, I looked at it as disrespect from the outside looking in. I think he may have taken it that way as well,” CJ McCollum said. The Warriors were also reportedly unwilling to give Thompson the four-year extension he wanted. In this scenario, his move to the Dallas Mavericks makes sense. Although, NBA fans have yet to see Thompson adapting to his new role. However, if his off-court activities are any indication, then the move is already proving beneficial.

On the ‘95.7 The Game’ show, The Athletic’s Sam Amick pointed out that, painful as it was, even Warriors’ members had to admit that Thompson needed a change. Amick noted that “because of everything he’d (Thompson) been through physically, and then the way the team had evolved and the environment around him had changed during that time, that he needed something fresh.”

“If his social media is any indication, it’s kinda just what the doctor ordered. He’s posting all kinds of stuff about, you know, ‘Best summer ever’, and training his b–t off, and you know he’s gonna have that chip on his shoulder, so I’m curious to see how he fits in.”

If anyone expected Klay Thompson’s summer to be a bit on the down-low, they would have been left surprised. Maybe even pleased, since he seems to have moved past the gloom stage. Less than a week ago, the player posted a “Best Summer Ever” caption on his Instagram story, with the late singer Aaliyah’s ‘One in a Million’ playing in the background. The lyrics contained the phrase “That’s why I don’t mind to spend my life with you.” It may indicate Thompson’s new commitment, or may just be an innocent part of the mesmerizing track. A few days later, Thompson again returned to the Instagram story to highlight himself doing some homework by watching a video titled ‘2011 Dallas Mavericks Road to The NBA Finals.’ The player kept taking notes for the 85-minute video, displaying his commitment despite some more weeks remaining before he returned to the court.

With a 3-year, $50 million contract, all that Thompson needs to worry about now is handling the pressure. Fortunately, his new squad may also play a big role in reducing that pressure.

“No one is expecting Klay to average 21, 22” – Gilbert Arenas believes Klay Thompson’s life will be easier alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving

With the Golden State Warriors, Klay Thompson was Stephen Curry’s right-hand man. While Draymond Green’s focus lay primarily on the defensive front, it was the responsibility of the ‘Splash Brothers’ to lead on the offensive front in every game. If Curry was not available for a particular game, the pressure fell solely on Thompson. Therefore, no one can deny that the player knows how to play whilst carrying a particular responsibility. With the Mavericks, however, Thompson might be able to take it easy.

Former Warriors star Gilbert Arenas, on his show, said that the Mavericks currently have two guards. He was referring to Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. The duo maintained an average of 33.9 points and 25.6 points during the 2023-24 season. They were responsible for bringing the Mavericks’ regular games record to 50-32. Furthermore, they took the franchise to the Finals for the first time since 2011. Therefore, Arenas revealed that Thompson can finally relax after over a decade. “No one’s expecting Klay to average 21 PPG, 22 PPG. If he does, oh sh*t. But for the most part, that offense is run by two dudes. Going off during this season here and there. He can come in and average 20 PPG; it’s going to be less pressure for him though.”

How do you feel Klay Thompson is adjusting to the shift from the Warriors to the Mavericks? Let us know in the comments down below.

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