Klay Thompson is leaving the Bay Area.
The veteran shooting guard has agreed to sign with the Dallas Mavericks for three years and $50 million, according to multiple reports. It marks the first time in 13 years that Thompson will play for a team other than the Golden State Warriors, who drafted him No. 11 overall in 2011.
One-half of the Splash Brothers with Stephen Curry, Thompson’s elite marksmanship and defense were key components of the Warriors’ four NBA championships. He overcame ACL and Achilles injuries in consecutive years to return Golden State to glory with his fourth championship in 2022.
Beyond his on-court excellence, Thompson became a fan favorite for his eccentric personality and beloved bulldog Rocco. His boat excursions became legendary, as he commuted across the Bay to the Warriors’ home games at Chase Center while live streaming on Instagram.
He is also believed to be the only player in NBA history to autograph a toaster.
.@warriors are 11-0 since Klay Thompson signed this dude’s toaster.
https://t.co/Dv28nkb4In pic.twitter.com/6IHsbeUmUb
— Sam Laird (@samcmlaird) April 3, 2017
With Thompson headed to Texas, here are his most memorable moments in a Golden State uniform:
Game 6 in Oklahoma City
With the Warriors facing elimination against the Thunder in the 2016 Western Conference Finals, Thompson stamped his legacy as “Game 6 Klay.”
He drained a then-playoff record 11 3-pointers, including several key shots down the stretch, as Golden State came from behind to win 108-101 and force a seventh game.
Thompson finished with 41 points, and the Warriors ultimately won the series.
60 points on 11 dribbles
Thompson was renowned for his ability to score without excessive ball handling. On Dec. 5, 2016 against the Indiana Pacers, he took it to another level.
Dribbling the ball just 11 times, Thompson scored a career-high 60 points in 29 minutes of court time. He did not play in the fourth quarter, finishing with a 21-of-33 shooting line and eight made 3-pointers.
A 37-point quarter
Thompson’s most prolific shooting display crafted an NBA record that still stands today.
Against the Sacramento Kings on Jan. 23, 2015, at Oracle Arena, Thompson scored 37 points in the third quarter. He was a perfect 13 for 13 from the field and finished 9 of 9 from 3-point range.
For good measure, he went 2 of 2 from the free-throw line as well.
ACL tear against Toronto
The most trying tenure of Thompson’s Warriors career commenced on June 13, 2019.
In the third quarter of Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors, Thompson tore his left ACL after being fouled on a layup attempt. He headed into the tunnel to be examined by the Warriors’ medical staff but then dramatically returned to the court, where he shot and made both free throws.
Though he ran back on defense immediately thereafter, the Warriors intentionally fouled and Thompson was removed from the game before the Raptors could advance the ball.
Despite leaving the game with 2:20 remaining in the third quarter, Thompson finished as Golden State’s leading scorer with 30 points.
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Thompson missed the Warriors’ next 177 games. After rehabbing his ACL injury, he tore his right Achilles tendon during a workout in November 2020.
Comeback in 2022
After 941 days of excruciating recovery, Thompson returned to the Warriors on Jan. 9, 2022.
In his first game at Chase Center, the five-time All-Star scored 17 points in a 96-82 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. His reemergence was punctuated by a highlight dunk in the second quarter.
Thompson completed his comeback as a key contributor to Golden State’s 2022 championship team.
