In an emotional interview, NBA star Klay Thompson recently shared his struggles over the past two years, revealing that he had lost sight of why he plays basketball.
Thompson admitted that the last two years have been particularly challenging for him, while revealing that he now is in a place where he has rediscovered why he played the game.
“The last two years were so tough for me, ’cause like, you try to measure yourself to what you were, and like, all the accomplishments and all that, and I let so much other crap get into my head, and I forgot why I really play this game.
“Yeah, ’cause I love it, you know? I’m trying to measure myself to everyone else’s standard. I didn’t realize how big a waste of energy that is, man. You’ve seen it in the comments. You’re gonna get people like, sometimes, they’re writing foul stuff, and don’t ever let that stop you from what you do, bro. Yeah, I feel like that impeded what I was great at last year…
“At the end of the day, I look back like, bro, I still play a phenomenal brand of ball. Like, you 18 a game, 39% from three. I’m not gonna let someone tell me that’s not great. You would’ve told me that as an 18-year-old, I’d be like, ‘Hell yeah!'”
After the 2022 Championship, injuries and a lot of noise from within the Warriors, Thompson found it difficult to regain his confidence and his place within the team. His role within the Warriors’ lineup diminished, and he faced criticism and doubt from both fans and the organization.
This led to Thompson joining the Mavericks on a three-year, $50 million contract this summer via a sign and trade.
Despite not being the player he once was during the peak years of the Warriors dynasty, Thompson remains one of the league’s top shooters. Last season, he averaged 17.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. His ability to stretch the floor and provide consistent scoring will be invaluable to a Mavericks team that struggled with perimeter shooting in the finals.
