Draymond Green revealed on Rich Kleiman’s podcast that long-time teammate Klay Thompson was 90 percent likely to leave the Golden State Warriors in free agency during the summer of 2019, before a torn ACL in the NBA Finals altered his path. Green stated he had no desire to persuade Thompson to stay when the guard ultimately departed for the Dallas Mavericks in 2024, recognizing his fellow Splash Brother needed a fresh start.
The 2019 Turning Point and Free Agency Realities
According to Draymond Green’s appearance on the podcast The Network with Rich Kleiman, Thompson stood at a major career crossroads in 2019. Having secured three NBA titles and reached five straight NBA Finals while making the All-Star team each year, Thompson faced an expiring contract. Green noted that Thompson was “90 percent likely” to leave the Golden State Warriors that summer. However, a torn ACL sustained in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals—occurring just one game after teammate Kevin Durant tore his Achilles—anchored Thompson in San Francisco through his recovery and subsequent years.
Thompson sits fourth on the NBA’s all-time three-pointers list and remains on pace to pass Ray Allen. The historical parallel extends beyond shooting records: Allen joined the Miami Heat late in his career after serving as a primary scoring option for the Milwaukee Bucks and Seattle SuperSonics. Green indicated that Thompson shared a similar desire to lead his own team and capture that specific type of opportunity before injuries reshaped his trajectory.
Why Green Refused to Persuade Thompson to Stay in 2024
When Thompson’s tenure in Golden State officially ended in the summer of 2024 with a three-year, $50 million contract switch to the Dallas Mavericks, Green chose not to lobby his teammate to remain. “Kein Teil von mir wollte versuchen, ihn zum Bleiben zu überreden, weil ich wusste, dass er das für sich selbst brauchte,” Green explained on the podcast, emphasizing that brotherhood required looking past shared history to support a necessary departure. Green added that forcing Thompson to stay would have been detrimental, asserting that his friend “musste gehen, um sich wieder wie Klay Thompson zu fühlen.”
Recalling the exact conversation when Thompson delivered the news, Green recounted the guard’s reasoning: “Dre, ich gehe. Ich will einfach etwas Neues ausprobieren, aber trotzdem um Titel spielen. Die haben Luka, die haben Kyrie, das fühlt sich richtig an.” Despite the emotional weight of splitting up, Green expressed confidence in the Warriors’ current roster, pointing to Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and himself as a core ready to compete against any opponent.
Next Steps for the Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors continue their regular-season schedule, navigating the Western Conference landscape following the structural shift of Thompson’s departure. Fans and analysts tracking the franchise can monitor official team injury reports, starting lineups, and upcoming game broadcasts through NBA.com or local sports networks.
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