Klay Thompson‘s decision to sign with the Dallas Mavericks came as something as a shock within NBA circles, especially as most clued-in pundits thought he would join up with LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.
It was a decision not everyone agreed with, including his own father, and some still believe he will struggle for the same level of impactful minutes in Dallas, as opposed to what he would have had with the Lakers.
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However, not everyone has been critical of the move, with former NBA player Rashad McCants suggesting that he completely understood the decision Klay Thompson had taken.
Did pressure play a part in Thompson’s choice?
Rashad McCants suggests Thompson avoided the Lakers due to the high pressure that follows the heralded franchise on an annual basis.
Sources close to Thompson indicate he wanted a fresh start and saw joining the Lakers as akin to staying with the Warriors.
“Klay not going to come out and say it’s bad business with the Warriors,” McCants explained on the Gil’s Arena podcast.
“The organization is doing some questionable stuff. Klay is sitting back like, ‘Do I really want to come back to something like this?’ which is why he didn’t sign with the Lakers.
“It’s too much pressure.”
Warriors fans were equally disappointed
Warriors fans are understandably upset about the breakup of the Splash Brothers.
After spending 13 years and winning four championships with the Warriors, Thompson is set to join the Mavericks, forming another big-three alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
Klay Thompson signed a three-year, 50-million-dollar contract with the Mavericks. The trade involved the Mavericks sending two second-round picks to the Warriors and Josh Green joining the Charlotte Hornets.
