After parting ways with Klay Thompson just a season ago, a number of sports reporters have pondered his return to the Warriors.
“The Warriors and their fans have never stopped loving Klay Thompson, evidenced by the franchise’s heartfelt response to the passing of his beloved bulldog, Rocco, in May 2025, and the emotional ovation during his return to Chase Center as a Maverick on Nov. 12, 2024,” Empire Sports Media writer David McFarland wrote.
He added, “A reunion could mend the wounds of Thompson’s departure, which left fans and the organisation grappling with the end of the ‘Splash Brothers’ era. Bringing Thompson back could galvanise the fanbase and locker room, reinforcing the Warriors’ identity as a franchise that honors its legends. Thompson’s role would likely be reduced, potentially as a sixth man, a scenario that contributed to his departure in 2024.”
ClutchPoints’ Jedd Pagaduan went as far as suggesting a Thompson trade recently.
Mavericks get: Moses Moody, Gui Santos
Warriors get: Klay Thompson
Pagaduan acknowledged, “if the Warriors were to make another deep playoff run, it’s only right that Thompson be a part of it.”
He added, “Thompson should at least be better than the version of Moody that showed up in the 2025 NBA playoffs.”
Klay is 35 and has battled multiple major injuries.
Tension between Thompson and the front office played a major part in his departure, according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.
“Thompson had felt disrespected, sources said, that the team didn’t offer him an extension the summer after it won that title,” ESPN reported. “That feeling only deepened the following summer when Golden State was only willing to discuss two-year contracts in the range of $23 million to $24 million, instead of matching the four-year, $100 million deal Green had received.”
So while the idea of bringing Klay home might be poetic, it’s also complicated.
There’s emotional value in the move, and nostalgia for the ‘Splash Brothers’ era, but there’s plenty of baggage.
READ MORE: Dell Curry Says Steph ‘Not Even Close’ to Retiring
