Is a Splash Brothers reunion on the cards? According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, Dallas Mavericks wing Klay Thompson is widely expected to return to the Golden State Warriors to finish his career alongside Stephen Curry.
In his latest piece detailing the “regrets and reflections” from Thompson’s departure for Dallas in 2024, Slater noted those in the veteran sharpshooter’s camp expect him to don Warriors colors again — at some point in the future.
“Those around Thompson say they believe it could eventually happen because ‘there’s no one that carries more weight with Klay than Steph,’ one league source said.”
“But Curry would have to push for it,” added Slater.
Warriors Return?
In the past, several players returned to their beloved NBA franchises with ceremonial one-day contracts before calling it quits. Recent examples include Luol Deng (Chicago Bulls, 2019) and Amar’e Stoudemire (New York Knicks, 2016). Similarly, franchise icons like Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat), Kevin Garnett (Minnesota Timberwolves) and Allen Iverson (Philadelphia 76ers) ensured they played their last seasons with the teams where they earned most notoriety and success. Even Warriors legend Chris Mullin took that route in the 2000-01 season before walking off into the sunset.
Could Thompson, 35, return to the Warriors on a one-day deal? Curry told Anthony Slater that he expects that “at a minimum,” but isn’t ruling out a full-time return.
“It would be unbelievable,” Curry said of a Klay Thompson return.
“If that time comes and that conversation is had, of course I’m calling him and saying, ‘We want you back.’ And hopefully that would be a welcome message to him. But as we stand right now, that does seem like a far distant reality. But so did him leaving.”
Curry, Klay Address Reunion
Thompson tried to temper the expectations of Warriors fans.
“I don’t know,” Thompson said of a return to Golden State. “That’s a long ways away, man. That’s a lot of basketball to be had. I don’t know what the future holds.”
Even if a reunion doesn’t materialize, Klay Thompson will go down as arguably one of the five greatest players in Warriors history. In Warriors lore, he ranks fourth in games played, fifth in made field goals, second in three-pointers and sixth in points.
Thompson’s Warriors career ended in an anticlimactic fashion in 2024, as he finished with 0 points (0-of-10 FG) and couldn’t help his team survive a play-in game against the Sacramento Kings. During his final season, Thompson was in and out of the starting unit as Warriors head coach Steve Kerr tried to help him regain his groove.
Since leaving Golden State, Thompson has regressed into a streaky shooter and a role player who is also no longer an elite perimeter defender. This season, he’s averaging a career-low 11.1 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists on 37% shooting. His 36% shooting from deep is also a career-worst mark. That said, he can still be a valuable piece for a title contender in a bench role, given his ability to excel off the ball.
The Mavericks are “open to exploring deals” for Thompson before the Feb. 5 trade deadline, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
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