Klay Thompson is having one of the worst starts in his NBA career and he knows full well it’s why he was benched late in the Warriors’ 119-116 loss to the Suns on Tuesday night.
The 33-year-old posted just seven points, five rebounds on 12.5 percent shooting from three and 20 percent shooting from the field in 27 minutes.
The All-Star veteran got taken out of the game late in the piece by head coach Steve Kerr.
After the game he was asked about it by reporters and was clearly annoyed with his efforts.
“Of course it frustrates me,” Thompson said, per The Athletic’s Anthony Slater. “You think I’m gonna just chill? I’m freaking competitive man. At the end of the day, I’m one of the most competitive people to put this uniform on. I can say that with confidence too. But whatever. I guess I didn’t bring it tonight. I deserved it.”
Thompson was also asked if he was given an explanation to why he was benched at the time, to which Slater noted Thompson said “nope” five times.
“Nope,” Thompson said. “Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Whatever. I deserved to be benched tonight. I played like crap.
“I trust Steve. I trust Steve now and forever will.”
Slater was in attendance at Footprint Center in Phoenix and described the moment Thompson was benched.
“Steph at one point kinda had to pull him him away,” Slater said of Thompson. “He was yelling towards the bench. It didn’t seem like it was anybody in particular he was yelling at. I’m sure the coaching staff for making the decision. But he was making his opinions felt. Then he walked over and hit something on the bench. It looked like a cup rack or something went flying behind the bench.”
Thompson is in the final year of his contract and will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
Unfortunately, it’s not an ideal time for a looming free agency as Klay is averaging just 15.4 points per game this season on 39.7 percent shooting – the worst numbers of his career outside his rookie campaign.
NBA Insider Shams Charania says Thompson’s future at Golden State is very much unknown at this point.
“[Klay Thompson’s] future has been in question…,”Charania said FanDuel TV. I’m told that the Warriors offered 2 years in the range of $48 million dollars in an extension to Klay Thompson before the season, and now there’s no deal.”
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