“Klay Thompson Is the 2nd!”: 3x All-Star Ranks Warriors’ Sharpshooter over Draymond Green Ahead of $43.2 Million Season

Former Washington Wizards star Gilbert Arenas recently spoke about the Golden State Warriors dynasty during the recent episode of the Gil’s Arena podcast. After being asked who between Klay Thompson and Draymond Green was more important to the Warriors’ dynasty, Arenas seemed reluctant initially to give a straight reply. Stephen Curry, Thompson, and Green have been together for well over a decade now. However, the three-time All-Star ended up picking Thompson ahead of Draymond Green for a very specific reason.

Thompson, now entering the final year of his 5-year-deal with the Warriors, will be earning a whopping $43.2 million this season. Amid speculations regarding the four-time NBA Champion’s contract extension, Arenas decided to pit two core players of the Dubs dynasty against each other.

Gilbert Arenas chooses Klay Thompson as the 2nd most important piece in Warriors’ dynasty

There is little doubt that two-time MVP and 2022 Finals MVP Stephen Curry has been the most important player in the Warriors’ four Championship runs. Curry has done enough to be regarded as arguably the franchise’s most important player ever.

However, the likes of Klay Thompson and Draymond Green have also heavily contributed to the four chips the Warriors have won. Arenas talked about how the two players both benefitted from each other before eventually picking Klay as his 2nd option:

“It’s hard because they both, Klay [Thompson] benefitted from Draymond, Draymond benefitted from Klay, coz that’s where it went. We do the pick and roll, you kick it back to me, I drive, they dumb, I pass it to Klay… So, Klay [Thompson] is the 2nd. It’s hard to find another Klay. I can find someone to just, I can find a Draymond-type. If I have a Klay and a Steph, I can find a Draymond-type. Someone to grab and go and pass, I can find another Draymond.”

Arenas’ reasoning behind choosing Klay was that finding a defensive screener who can contribute with pick-and-rolls, like Draymond does, is easier to find than someone like Klay. One-half of the Splash brothers, Thompson is truly one of the best shooters the league has ever seen. His defensive skills also make him an elite two-way player. However, Arenas might be underestimating Draymond Green’s capability to boost the morale of the locker room with his energetic influence.

Klay Thompson to enter final year of his five-year-deal

Thompson was expected to sign a contract extension in the offseason. Having signed a five-year $190 million deal in the summer of 2019, he will be entering the final year of his contract this season.

Thompson’s deal will fetch him a whopping $43.2 million salary this season, which is the most he has ever made. However, it seems like no progress has been made on a new deal just yet.

Reporting for NBA Countdown on the Klay Thompson extension talks, including ESPN analyst Bob Myers’ window into the negotiating stakes for the Golden State Warriors and the franchise’s storied guard pic.twitter.com/YpZaIppooU

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 16, 2023

However, Warriors owner Joe Lacob has recently given a promising update on re-signing Klay Thompson. Lacob has stated that his organization wants to extend Thompson’s contract and keep him as a Dubs lifer.