Klay Thompson will enter the NBA Playoffs riding the high of having made the most three-pointers during the regular season.
Klay Thompson, according to reports, expects to get paid soon. Before the Warriors’ 126-123 Game 1 defeat to the Sacramento Kings on Saturday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski claimed, citing sources, that Thompson is anticipating a huge contract deal from Golden State in the spring.
“There’s a tremendous amount at stake for this Golden State Warriors organization in these Western Conference playoffs and starting in this series against the Sacramento Kings,” Wojnarowski explained to Mike Greenberg on “NBA Countdown” before the game. “And especially with Klay Thompson, who I’m told, has an expectation that he would be rewarded with a new, max-level contract extension this offseason.”
Thompson has one more year on his contract, at $43 million, after the 2022-23 NBA season, according to Wojnarowski. According to the NBA insider, if the Warriors elect to extend the 33-year-old and Draymond Green exercises his player option, Golden State might be heavily strained.
“But this is an inflection point for the Golden State organization, with Klay Thompson, Steph Curry and then Draymond Green, who could opt into his deal at $27 million,” Wojnarowski continued. “The Warriors could be facing a payroll and luxury tax over $500 million.”
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With Golden State in a difficult financial situation, Thompson’s contract is undoubtedly a topic of discussion, especially given that he had one of the finest seasons of his NBA career. Thompson participated in 69 games this season, scoring 21.9 points per game (third-highest of his career), collecting a career-high 4.1 rebounds per game, and hitting a career-high 301 3-pointers, becoming the third player in NBA history to make at least 300 3s in a season.
Despite the speculation, Thompson stated early in the season that he is unconcerned about his future contract extension and prefers to let his play speak for itself. The Warriors are currently facing a vital offseason, especially with an enormous tax bill approaching. But Thompson has earned the big deal that Golden State may offer him.
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