Stephen Curry said he wishes Klay Thompson remained with the Golden State Warriors and is open to a future reunion with his former teammate. Curry discussed Thompson’s departure and their relationship in an interview with ESPN ahead of the Mavericks’ Christmas Day visit to Golden State.
“I wish he was still here,” Curry told ESPN.
Thompson left the Warriors after 13 seasons to sign with the Dallas Mavericks in free agency in 2024 on a three-year, $50 million sign-and-trade. The departure ended one of the NBA’s most successful partnerships, as Curry, Thompson and Draymond Green won four championships together.
The Warriors aggressively pursued free agent Paul George during the 2024 offseason and told Thompson he would have to wait until other business was settled, according to league sources. An offer was never made to Thompson, who took it as a hint he was not a priority.
Sources around Thompson told ESPN he felt pushed out in a strategic manner. The Warriors maintain they offered Thompson a two-year, $48 million extension during the 2023 offseason, though Thompson’s side never believed it was as genuine as portrayed.
“This was a guy who felt he left it all out there for [team owner] Joe [Lacob] and the organization, and was then viewed as damaged goods,” one league source told ESPN.
Curry spent the night at Thompson’s Dallas house in February and organized a dinner that included Green and assistant coach Chris DeMarco. The gathering provided closure on Thompson’s departure, Curry said.
“We didn’t need to address any feelings or his departure or anything like that,” Green said. “It was friends kicking it.”
Thompson tore his ACL in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals and later suffered an Achilles injury, missing 941 days of basketball. The Warriors signed Thompson to a five-year, $190 million max contract less than one month after the ACL tear.
Curry said he would push for a Thompson reunion if the opportunity arose. At minimum, Curry expects Thompson to sign a ceremonial one-day contract to retire with the Warriors.
“It would be unbelievable,” Curry said of a potential reunion. “If that time comes and that conversation is had, of course I’m calling him and saying, ‘We want you back.'”
Thompson struggled early this season in Dallas but has shot 40.7 percent from three-point range over the past month. The Mavericks are expected to explore Thompson’s trade market near the deadline, according to league sources.
“There’s no one that carries more weight with Klay than Steph,” one league source told ESPN.
Thompson didn’t dismiss the idea of returning to the Warriors at some point when asked.
“I don’t know,” Thompson said. “That’s a long ways away, man. That’s a lot of basketball to be had. I don’t know what the future holds.”