Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob was never going to let shooting guard Klay Thompson walk in free agency despite the ACL tear Thompson suffered in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors.
The Warriors re-signed Thompson to a five-year max contract this summer worth $190 million. Thompson is expected to miss a big chunk of the 2019-20 season rehabbing his ACL injury, but Lacob and the Warriors never wavered in signing the star shooting guard to a max contract extension.
“There was no doubt in my mind, whatsoever,” Lacob said on the latest episode of The Warriors Insider Podcast. “I, and we, want Klay to be here for a long time. He’s one of my favorite players in the world.
“ACLs…not good, OK we know that. But stuff happens and that’s an injury that now people know how to manage. Plenty of people have come back from ACLs and done pretty well. Honestly, (not re-signing him) didn’t even remotely cross my mind.”
This past season, Klay Thompson averaged 21.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists for the Warriors. The five-time All-Star shot 46.7 percent from the field, 40.2 percent from beyond the arc and 81.6 percent from the free-throw line.
In the 2019 playoffs, Thompson put up 20.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists. The Warriors lost to the Raptors in the NBA Finals in six games.
Golden State acquired All-Star point guard D’Angelo Russell in a sign-and-trade deal with the Brooklyn Nets after Kevin Durant agreed to sign with Brooklyn. Russell and Stephen Curry will share the backcourt while Thompson is out.
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