NBA Rumors: Klay Thompson Rubbed 'Wrong Way' in Warriors Contract Talks During Season

Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson was reportedly "rubbed wrong" by the team's negotiating tactics as the two sides tried to reach a long-term extension during the regular season.

Kendra Andrews of ESPN reported the Warriors did not offer "much reassurance" Thompson would ultimately be taken care of to keep him, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green together. Thompson reportedly desires a deal that will align with Curry and Green, who are both under contract through at least the 2025-26 season. (Green's deal carries a player option for 2026-27.)

ESPN's Zach Lowe reported there have been no "substantive" talks between the Warriors and Thompson in months. Thompson is expected to draw interest in free agency, and Jrue Holiday's four-year, $135 million extension with the Boston Celtics may have increased his asking price.

Thompson is coming off a wildly inconsistent season that ranked as arguably the worst of his career. He averaged 17.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game while shooting a disappointing 38.7 percent from three-point range. The only other time Thompson ever shot worse from three was when he came back from a 30-month injury absence in 2021-22.

Thompson ended his season—and perhaps Warriors career—by missing all 10 of his shots in Tuesday's Play-In Tournament loss to the Sacramento Kings. Even with all the inconsistency, Warriors coach Steve Kerr and Thompson's teammates were adamant the future Hall of Famer should be back next season.

"We need Klay back," Kerr said. "He's still got good years left. And I know I speak for everybody in the organization: We want him back. ... What Klay has meant to this franchise and as good as he still is, we desperately want him back."

"I could never see myself not with those two guys," Warriors guard Steph Curry said of Thompson and Draymond Green. "I understand this league changes and there are so many things that go into it and we're not going to play forever, but we've experienced so much together and at the end of the day I know they want to win, I know I want to win, and that's all I'm worried about."

Thompson has spent his entire 13-year NBA career with the Warriors.