Klay Thompson not worried about his extension with Warriors

Having entered the final year of his contract with the Golden State Warriors, four-time NBA champion shooter Klay Thompson is negotiating for a new deal with the team. Though many saw this as a key move to the Warriors’ franchise building, Thompson himself didn’t seem to worry about it.

“It’s not going to be a thing,” Thompson said in an interview with The Athletic. “The fact that I’m going into my 13th season – that alone – it gives me such peace of mind. Granted, I’ve made money, I’ve been able to take care of my family, myself, the people I love. But when I started playing this game, I never once thought I’m playing the game because I’m going to be rich and famous. Never did.”

Having played 10 seasons in the league – he missed two campaigns because of injury – Thompson averaged 19.8 points and 3.1 triples at 41.6 percent per game for the Warriors. He has so far inked three contracts with the team: the four-year, $9.7 million rookie deal; the first extension of four years and $69 million and the current one of five years and $189.9 million.

“I don’t need to go into this year and … I know if I just do my job and I’m in shape and I compete at my highest level, I’m going to make money in this league for a long time,” Thompson said. “So I don’t worry about it. I’m blessed beyond measure. Obviously you want to make the most in the window you have as an athlete. But I’m not going to let that get in the way of winning a championship. When you win, everything else will be taken care of.”

There were reports last season that Thompson wanted a max deal which will cost the Warriors some $50 million in average salary, but it’s unlikely to happen. The team already has the biggest payroll of over $225 million for the 2023-24 season. Stephen Curry, Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green all have at least three years left of their current deals and they combine to make nearly $100 million this season, not to mention that the number will grow bigger in the future. Therefore, the Warriors, which have been famous for their double-track plan for franchise building in recent years, can’t afford to overpay Thompson for another four or five years.

However, it will be in the Warriors’ best interest to keep Thompson, not only because he is one of their core members from the dynasty era of 2015 to 2019, but also for his unique role. Thompson is a top-five 3-point shooter in NBA history. Despite his slipping defensive performance, he is still integral to the Warriors on this end of the game with his size, power and experience.

Both Wiggins and Green agreed to pay cuts when they signed extensions with the Warriors. If Thompson does the same, he will be doing the team a huge favor. According to Bleacher Report, some NBA executives believe that he will get a four-deal that pays him $30 to $35 million per season.

“I wouldn’t want to go anywhere else. To play for one franchise, man? That’s so rare. In any sport. Football. Baseball. Basketball. Australian Rules Football. To play for one club is insane,” Thompson said. “It’s some real legendary stuff. Even what Udonis Haslem did. He’s revered in Miami. Locally. That’s what I cherish. Going around the country, going around the world and people from Northern California or Warriors fans in general are just so prideful about the Warriors. And I was here before banners were hung up. So in a way, it’s our baby. You want to ride it out. I’ve just been so lucky to be a part of this franchise. It’d be so hard to envision myself in another uniform.”