Stephen Curry says he has “no ill will” toward Klay Thompson after an emotional parting from his longtime Golden State Warriors teammate in free agency.
“It’s one of those things where you never think you’d ever have that conversation,” Curry told The Athletic’s Sam Amick. “Even to the 11th hour, when I knew all the signs were pointing towards (Thompson and the Warriors) not finding a resolution on the contract, you’re thinking, ‘Maybe it’ll be one of those things where he’d come out and say, ‘Oh, we got it done.'” Curry continued:
You hold out that kind of hope. But, yeah, it was a rough call. When you hear him open up on the whys, and just how much he appreciated the friendship and being teammates and champions that we were, there’s no words that really do that justice. I know it was hard for him. You just try to keep it as cool as possible on the phone, because you don’t want to be sobbing and going through that. There was a little bit (of tears). But it’s one of those things where I know when I see him in person, I’ll be able to give him that energy properly.
Curry told Amick he would give Thompson “the official send-off that our history and our experience deserves” after he is finished representing Team USA in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“I hope that before he’s over in Dallas that there’s a time when we can just sit down and chop it up and reminisce on all the good times,” Curry said. “I definitely want to leave on a great note. There’s no bitterness. There’s no ill will or anything. I just want him to be happy and have a good time playing basketball like he deserves.”
Curry concluded: “It’s a matter of him feeling like he’s doing what’s in the best interest of him and getting a fresh start that he needed. I just pray it works out, and that he, again, just has fun playing basketball, because he’d had a rough two years.”
Thompson left Golden State after 11 seasons in a sign-and-trade deal with the Dallas Mavericks. He served as Curry’s backcourt partner for the Warriors’ four title runs between 2015 and 2022 but played a more limited role with the team last season.
The Athletic’s Anthony Slater reported after Thompson’s departure that the Warriors never made an official offer to the veteran guard this offseason.
Instead, the Warriors prioritized other free agency goals like the pursuit of former Los Angeles Clippers star Paul George, per NBA insider Marc Stein.
George ended up signing with the Philadelphia 76ers, and by the time the Warriors turned back to Thompson, it was too late, according to Slater.
“Warriors sources maintained a plan to eventually make a competitive offer in relation to his market once other business was settled,” Slater wrote. “But they never had the chance. Many league sources said Thompson’s decision to depart was unofficially made weeks ago.”
During these stalled negotiations, Thompson asked Curry not to push the Warriors to re-sign him, Slater reported.
Amick reported that Curry ignored that request and asked the Warriors to bring Thompson back.
But with team owner Joe Lacob reportedly not willing to spend large amounts of money unless the team can find a star to play alongside Curry, the Warriors let Thompson nonetheless.
The team is now sitting just below the first salary apron (h/t Spotrac), a feat that would likely not have been possible had the Warriors taken on the three-year, $50 million deal Thompson agreed to with the Mavericks.
Curry told Yahoo Sports’ Vincent Goodwill that he wanted the Warriors to remain competitive above all else.
The Golden State star may believe that the offseason additions of players like De’Anthony Melton, Buddy Hield and Kyle Anderson will help make up for the losses of veterans like Thompson and Chris Paul as the Warriors hope to return to postseason contention in 2025.