Warriors' Klay Thompson Has 'No Intention' of Retiring in 2024 Despite Speculation

Klay Thompson's current contract expires after the 2023-24 season, but he has every intention of signing another one and continuing his NBA career.

"There's a report out there—I have no intention of retiring in 2024," he told reporters Thursday. "If you write some dumb s--t like that, be held accountable. That's crazy. Just because I didn't play five-on-five doesn't mean I'm gonna retire. That is absurd."

Thompson appeared to be referencing comments San Francisco Chronicle sportswriter Connor Letourneau made during a guest segment on KNBR radio.

"The reality is that Klay does have two more years on his deal," Letourneau said. "I personally would not be shocked if Klay just retired from basketball at the end of that contract. I don't think it's going to be between this season and next season. If he does retire in the near future it would be after his contract ends. He's had no interest or desire to talk about extensions, even though he is extension eligible right now."

It should be noted Letourneau was not reporting that Thompson will retire.

Rather, he was speculating it could happen in the aftermath of multiple serious injuries that sidelined Thompson for more than years. Letourneau said the shooting guard "was very open with me about how the trauma from that experience is very real."

Thompson tore his ACL during the 2019 NBA Finals loss to the Toronto Raptors, forcing him to miss the entire 2019-20 season.

He then missed the following campaign when he ruptured his Achilles and didn't make his return to the court until January of the 2021-22 season. He appeared in 32 games in all last season, and his 29.4 minutes per game was his lowest mark since he was a rookie in 2011-12.

Thompson was still able to help lead the Warriors to the championship, which was the fourth one of his career.

The five-time All-Star will forever be a franchise legend, but he turns 33 years old this season and dealt with far more significant injuries than many players do at any point in their careers.

It would be shocking to see him suit up for another team, although Golden State recently agreed to long-term extensions with Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins and also has a Draymond Green situation looming since he has a player option for next season.

The team will eventually have to figure out a way to make a Thompson deal work if he is going to stay, and he was adamant that retirement is off the table.