On-Air Now
On-Air Now
Listen Live from the Casino Matrix Studio

Klay Thompson’s dad says son will re-sign in 2019, retire with Warriors

By

/


© Cary Edmondson | 2018 Jun 12


Klay Thompson is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next offseason, but he’s not going anywhere according to his father Mychal Thompson. Not just for the foreseeable future, but for the rest of his career.

“Oh yeah, you can mark it down. Klay’s going to retire in the Warriors’ uniform,” Mychal Thompson told Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle. “He’s going to play at Chase Center (the Warriors’ new arena, opening in 2019), and he’s not going to be at Chase Center as a visiting player, he’s going to be a Warrior for the next seven or eight years.”

The elder Thompson, a two-time NBA champion who played in the league from 1978-1991, went on to project that the Warriors are going to keep the core of their three-time championship winning squad together for the foreseeable future.

“He’s got such a good thing here. The Warriors have such a special thing here. For the next six or seven years they’re going to be championship material, they’re not going to break that up. The Chicago Bulls (with Michael Jordan) were broken up too prematurely. (Warriors owners) Joe Lacob and Peter Guber aren’t going to let that happen. Are you kidding? They can afford it. They’re the Warriors, this is the Bay Area, they got a beautiful arena, and money’s no object for this team.”

Kevin Durant will also likely hit unrestricted free agency once again next offseason, assuming he opts out of a player option for the 2019-2020 season worth over $31 million, and elects to sign a longer-term deal. Draymond Green is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in 2020, while Stephen Curry’s deal lasts through 2022.

Unsurprisingly Klay’s father expects his son to continue improving next season. Thompson, 28, is considered by many to be the most complete two-guard in the NBA, and has made four consecutive All-Star teams as a member of the Warriors.

“I think you’ll see a hungrier player,” Mychal Thompson said. “He’s going to try to get more versatile, try to get to the basket a little more, more free throws, being more efficient on offense that way. I always tell him, try to make it a goal to shoot eight (free throws) a game. Eight or 10, like James Harden does.”

“He’s just coming into his prime,” he continued. “Twenty-eight (Klay’s current age) to 34 are your best years of basketball.”