Draymond Green watched Klay Thompson build a career as one of the best second options for the Golden State Warriors. Stephen Curry led the team on the court as the No. 1 option during the years they were contending for NBA championships. Thompson was the team's second-leading scorer until Kevin Durant joined the team in 2016, and he became the third offensive option.
Eventually, Thompson's time in Golden State ended in 2024 when he joined the Dallas Mavericks. Leaving the Warriors was not a surprise, especially to his former longtime teammate. Green claims that the other half of the Splash Brothers would have left sooner.
Green claimed Thompson wanted to show the league that he could be a No. 1 option. However, the four-time champion revealed on Wednesday's "The Draymond Green Show" that his devastating ACL tear in the 2019 Finals changed his former co-star's plans.
Nov 12, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson (31) hugs Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) after a game at the Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
"Everyone tries to make Klay the guy Klay was after the injuries," Green said. "I won't go for that. What I will also say is, [it was] highly likely that after the 2019 playoffs, Klay Thompson was going to leave the Golden State Warriors and go be a No. 1 option somewhere. Highly f**king likely.

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