Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson didn’t even get a chance to spend what might be their final moments in the same uniform on the court.
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In a blowout play-in loss to the Kings, the dynastic trio checked out together with 2:13 left in a game that was already decided. The three legends are used to playing deep into May and June. Instead, their season ended on April 16.
Golden State ended the regular season as one of the league’s hottest teams, with a 22-11 second-half record. The Warriors won two more games than they did a year prior, making important progress in some key areas. But it was only enough for 10th best in a loaded Western Conference that has caught up to them.
Thompson missed all 10 of his shots, going scoreless in 32 minutes. He also lost his handle on a drive against Keon Ellis, clanked a wide-open 3 in transition and struggled defensively. Thompson had never attempted as many shots without hitting a single one in his 13-year career.
“This is life,” head coach Steve Kerr said. “This is how it works. You don’t get to stay on top forever.”
— Danny Emermen
Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson (11) stops near the entrance of the players tunnel and takes a moment to himself after being defeated by the Sacramento Kings during their NBA play-in tournament game at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. The Sacramento Kings defeated the Golden State Warriors 118-94. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry #30 heads to the locker room after their NBA 118-94 play-in tournament loss to the Sacramento Kings at the Golden One Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Tuesday, April 16, 2023. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown hugs Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) after their NBA play-in tournament game at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. The Sacramento Kings defeated the Golden State Warriors 118-94. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson #11 reacts after the Sacramento King’s 118-94 NBA play-in tournament win at the Golden One Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Tuesday, April 16, 2023. Thompson is now a free agent. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
The scoreboard shows Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson (11) played 32 minutes and finished with zero points as the final minutes wind down during their NBA play-in tournament game at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. The Sacramento Kings defeated the Golden State Warriors 118-94. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Sacramento Kings’ Domantas Sabonis (10) consoles Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson (11) after their NBA play-in tournament game at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. The Sacramento Kings defeated the Golden State Warriors 118-94. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry #30 is double teamed by Sacramento Kings’ Trey Lyles #41 and Keon Ellis #23 as he looks to shoot in the fourth quarter of their NBA play-in tournament game at the Golden One Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Tuesday, April 16, 2023. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Basketball fans stand during the playing of the national anthem before the start of the NBA play-in tournament game at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Kevon Looney #5 shoots past Sacramento Kings’ Domantas Sabonis #10 in the third quarter of their NBA play-in tournament game at the Golden One Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Tuesday, April 16, 2023. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
A Sacramento Kings fan gestures “Night, Night” as Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) wipes his face during the final minutes of the fourth quarter of their NBA play-in tournament game at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. The Sacramento Kings defeated the Golden State Warriors 118-94. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson #11 drives to the basket as he’s guarded by Sacramento Kings’ Harrison Barnes #40 in the third quarter of their NBA play-in tournament game at the Golden One Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Tuesday, April 16, 2023. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) sits on the floor after being knocked down by Sacramento Kings’ Domantas Sabonis (10) in the third quarter of their NBA play-in tournament game at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green #23 steals the ball from Sacramento Kings’ Domantas Sabonis #10 as Stephen Curry #30 looks on in the second quarter of their NBA play-in tournament game at the Golden One Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Tuesday, April 16, 2023. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson #11 sits on the bench during a timeout in the final minutes of the fourth quarter of their NBA play-in tournament game against the Sacramento Kings at the Golden One Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Tuesday, April 16, 2023. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson (11) shoots and misses the basket while playing the Sacramento Kings in the fourth quarter of their NBA play-in tournament game at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. The Sacramento Kings defeated the Golden State Warriors 118-94. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry #30 watches the last minute of their NBA play-in tournament game against the Sacramento Kings from the bench at the Golden One Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Tuesday, April 16, 2023. The Kings beat the Warriors 118-94. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Sacramento Kings’ De’Aaron Fox #5 dunks past Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green #23 and Klay Thompson #11 in the first quarter of their NBA play-in tournament game at the Golden One Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Sacramento Kings fans shake cow bells to distract the Golden State Warriors during a free throw attempt in the second quarter of their NBA play-in tournament game at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry #30 drives to the basket past Sacramento Kings’ Keegan Murray #13 in the third quarter of their NBA play-in tournament game at the Golden One Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Tuesday, April 16, 2023. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green (23) argues a foul called against him with NBA official James Williams in the third quarter of their NBA play-in tournament game at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson #11 and Jonathan Kuminga #00 battle for a loose ball with Sacramento Kings’ Keegan Murray #13 in the third quarter of their NBA play-in tournament game at the Golden One Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Tuesday, April 16, 2023. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Sacramento Kings fans cheer as their team close in on victory over the Golden State Warriors in the fourth quarter of their NBA play-in tournament game at the Golden One Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Tuesday, April 16, 2023. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins (22) goes up for a basket past Sacramento Kings’ De’Aaron Fox (5) in the second quarter of their NBA play-in tournament game at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson #11 watches from the bench in the second quarter of their NBA play-in tournament game against the Sacramento Kings at the Golden One Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Tuesday, April 16, 2023. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) battles Sacramento Kings’ Keegan Murray (13) for a loose ball in the second quarter of their NBA play-in tournament game at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson #11 is greeted by Jonathan Kuminga #00 as he comes out in the fourth quarter of their NBA play-in tournament game against the Sacramento Kings at the Golden One Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Tuesday, April 16, 2023. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry #30 chases after Sacramento Kings’ Keon Ellis #23 in the second quarter of their NBA play-in tournament game at the Golden One Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Tuesday, April 16, 2023. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr reacts in the second quarter of their NBA play-in tournament game against the Sacramento Kings at the Golden One Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Tuesday, April 16, 2023. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Brandin Podziemski (2) goes up for a basket against Sacramento Kings’ De’Aaron Fox (5) in the second quarter of their NBA play-in tournament game at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry #30 sits on the court after being knocked down by Sacramento Kings’ Domantas Sabonis #10 in the third quarter of their NBA play-in tournament game at the Golden One Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Tuesday, April 16, 2023. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson (11) shoots past Sacramento Kings’ Davion Mitchell (15) in the second quarter of their NBA play-in tournament game at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga #00 shoots an off-balance shot past Sacramento Kings’ Domantas Sabonis #10 in the second quarter of their NBA play-in tournament game at the Golden One Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Tuesday, April 16, 2023. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors fans hold up photo cutouts of their players in the fourth quarter of their NBA Play-In Tournament game at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. The Sacramento Kings defeated the Golden State Warriors 118-94. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson #11 drives to the basket as he’s guarded by Sacramento Kings’ Domantas Sabonis #10 in the third quarter of their NBA play-in tournament game at the Golden One Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Tuesday, April 16, 2023. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Sacramento Kings fans watch as they light the beam after their NBA Play-In Tournament game at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. The Sacramento Kings defeated the Golden State Warriors 118-94. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)