Drama brews ahead of the emotional rollercoaster at Chase Center! The stage is set for Klay Thompson as he returns to the Bay Area, this time as an opponent. Truly an emotional moment for the fans witnessing the ace shooter walking out of the visitors’ tunnel on Tuesday evening. The other half of the Splash Brothers duo, Stephen Curry has already said, “I’m not ready for this, man. It’s going to be a lot to look forward to. I’m excited to see him.” Curry wanted him back. Even Coach Steve Kerr also wanted him back. Otherwise, why would he go to a secret breakfast?

The Athletic dropped an article just days ahead of the reunion match, which revealed that Kerr had a private breakfast with Thompson at Manhattan Beach in late June, days before the Mavs signed him. He just wanted to let Thompson know that he valued him and wanted him back. They talked a little about the contractual situation. Kerr had also painted the reality of his future with the Warriors, according to the report. But Thompson had pretty much made up his mind, according to Kerr.

“At the end of the breakfast, he said, ‘You know, I think it’s time. I think I’m going to go to Dallas. I understood. I completely understood. Sometimes a fresh start can be healthy. I think it was the right decision for him,” Kerr said. Thompson himself also looks to have moved on from his Warriors stint.

When a reporter asked about the reunion following the loss against the Nuggets, Klay said, “It will be good to see people that you grinded with obviously, but to me, it’s just another regular season game in November.” This statement undoubtedly broke a few hearts. But amid this unsettling phase, Steve Kerr once again voiced his support for Thompson.

While the Bay Area fans pondered about Klay Thompson’s sudden change in attitude, Steve Kerr came in his defense in his latest interview. Featuring in the Willard & Dibs show on the 95.7 The Game radio show, Kerr said, “There’s a reason he said that. He’s trying to clear his mind, get centered, and come out and play a great game.”

“There’s going to be a lot. It’s going to be a lot on him and a lot on us and it’s definitely a difficult night and an emotional night and everybody has to do whatever they have to do to settle in and play well,” Kerr added as he attempted to defend Klay’s stone cold response. Indeed, a game means business and studying opponent players is a part of that. But Kerr did not hesitate to accept that nostalgia strikes them there as well.

The presenters asked him, “Was it a little surreal for you looking at the tape and then sitting down with your coaches and figuring out how to game plan to stop Klay Thompson?” With hesitating a moment Kerr said:

“Yeah, it’s different. I mean, you know we know him so well, we’ve been through so many battles together and had so much success and so you know that’s a lifetime bond there and night like these don’t happen that often, you know. I guess we had one with Andre Iguodala a few years ago when he came back with Miami you know, we’ve had a couple with Kevin Durant but this one is even different, because Klay was a warrior for life, you know, I mean 13 years here that’s quite a legacy and quite a bond.” And Warriors are ready to do all it takes to celebrate that on the reunion night.

According to Janie McCauley at The Associated Press (via NBC Sports), the Warriors have crafted a heartfelt tribute video to honor Thompson’s contribution to the franchise. Fans will also get into the spirit by sporting captain’s hats. “The Warriors have arranged a special ‘Salute Captain Klay’ ceremony to take place before the opening tip, celebrating Thompson’s immense impact on the franchise. The team encourages fans to arrive early, whether by land or sea, for a memorable pregame tribute to the franchise stalwart,” stated the report.

“Thompson embraced the Dub Nation, and they, in turn, embraced him. Warriors fans have shared countless moments with him—laughter, tears, cheers, and celebrations—so it’s only right to give them the opportunity to express their appreciation for his return to the Bay area,” the report further added. And you can not blame the franchise for the move, can you?

Thompson’s influence on the Warriors cannot be overstated. Throughout his 13-year stint with the team, he has played a pivotal role in securing four NBA championships from 2015 to 2022. The 6’5″ shooting guard has been recognized as a five-time All-Star, a two-time All-NBA Third Team selection, and a one-time All-Defensive Second Team member.

Moreover, Thompson sits just behind Curry in franchise history for three-pointers made, boasting an impressive 2,481. He is also ranked sixth on the all-time scoring list for the Warriors, with a staggering 15,531 points. Spare thoughts for his jaw-dropping 60-point game that he achieved with just 11 dribbles in merely 29 minutes on December 5, 2016, against the Indiana Pacers and the NBA record 14 3-pointers against the Chicago Bulls on October 29, 2018. After all these golden moments, if Klay’s post-game interview comment has broken your heart, then he has more cutthroat comments to add to it.

“That chapter is over. I’m in the midst of trying to win here. There is no point in missing anything when we have such a great opportunity here to be great. There’s no point in looking back. I got to look forward. I got to try to give my best self here,” Thompson said. For the unversed, NBC Sports had reported that Thompson was seeking a three-year contract with the Warriors, but the franchise was only willing to offer a two-year, $48 million deal. This difference in expectations may have contributed to Thompson’s decision to leave, ultimately signing with the Dallas Mavericks on a three-year, $50 million deal.

In September, On the Knuckleheads Podcast, 2004 NBA champion from the Detroit Pistons, Tayshaun Prince, had said, “It sounds like they offered him something. He was disappointed in that offer,” referring to the contract. But when Klay was asked if there was something he was most disappointed about in his departure, hen told Andscape: “Not really, to be honest. That’s just how things go.”

Prince had also speculated that Klay’s decision likely involved discussions with key figures from the Warriors- Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and head coach Steve Kerr before the final choice. “I’m sure Klay, Steph, Dray, coach Kerr, together since that thing was over, probably had that conversation. …they probably heard Klay, probably heard them, and then made a decision whatever was best.” It did happen, actually, Curry himself had revealed that.

“It’s kind of been a year-and-a-half-long process where understanding where Klay was with the decision that was in front of him, where the team was at in terms of the extension offer. The negotiations that were going on, I knew most of the updates that were happening and wanted to make sure Klay had the right support in terms of making the decision that was best for him,” Curry had said. Leaving all these bonds behind, as Klay embarks on the Mavs venture, how he might fit in that?

Klay can be the missing piece in the puzzle for the Mavs

At the look of things, it seems that Thompson can form a winning combination with five-time all-NBA first-teamer Luka Doncic and eight-time NBA All-Star Kyrie Irving. The Mavericks, won the NBA’s Western Conference last season. But they need spot-up shooting after their perimeter scoring suffered against Boston in the NBA Finals. Thompson might bring that.

ESPN’s Tim Legler is excited about watching Thompson to have a comeback season in 2025. “I’m going with Klay Thompson… I think because of his relevance. He’s going to be on a team that can contend for a title. His impact on Dallas and the number of shots that he is going to get as opposed to the guys that were taking those same exact shots a year ago, you’re going to see a dramatic difference in Dallas with Klay Thompson,” he said via NBA Today. Indeed, he can offer a lot of help to Doncic and Irving with his shooting.

The five-time NBA All-Star averaged 17.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per contest while shooting 43.2% from the field and 38.7% from the three-point range in 77 games. On the other hand, former Warriors player Gilbert Arenas thinks that Thompson will also benefit from the presence of Doncic and Irving.

Considered two of the NBA’s most dynamic guards, Irving had 25.6 points per game last year, while Doncic averaged 33.9 points. Arenas thinks, Thompson will flourish alongside them. “No one’s expecting Klay to average 21 PPG, 22 PPG. If he does, oh s**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,” Arenas noted. However for this to happen Mavs need to use Klay wisely.

one big issue of the team has been the team’s inability to connect on game-winning shots and finish strong in the clutch. Last Friday, Dallas had the chance to beat the Phoenix Suns with .8 seconds left on the clock. The team inbounded the ball to Luka Doncic who heaved a deep 3-pointer which fell just short. Same happened on Sunday.

Dallas was down by two points, as Kyrie Irving got the final shot. Irving threw up a 25-foot 3-pointer with two defenders in his face. The shot hit the rim, and Dallas lost their second game in a row. One solution to Dallas’ late-game tactics is to utilize Klay Thompson in some of these situations. Thompson is one of the top catch-and-shot guards in the league, and Mavs have to start getting him involved more often.

Klay is also great in scoring game-winners. He has hit many clutch shots in his career, as he is one of the most dangerous shooters in the league. One of his most recent game-winning shots came last November when he played for the Golden State Warriors. Thompson knocked down a critical mid-range shot with .2 seconds on the clock to give Golden State a last-minute victory over the Sacramento Kings. It remains to be seen if the Mavs can identify this potential and put it to good use.