After Failed Lakers Recruitment, Klay Thompson’s Dad Reveals Only Regret in 4x Champ’s Warriors Stint

Klay Thompson and his time in the Bay Area has officially ended. Official, though, is just a term. 13 years of core memories is hard to simply toss aside, wouldn’t you say? Despite the tough past year and everything that led to it, Klay was one of the cornerstones that revived the Golden State Warriors to its former glory. And that’s never a small feat. In fact, there was a time when opposing teams dreaded playing against the deadly Splash Brothers accompanied by a floor general of a man called Draymond Green.

This lethal trio received a major boost when the 4x scoring champion Kevin Durant joined them in 2016. The foursome then proceeded to win back-to-back championships in 2017 and 2018. However, after three seasons with the Dubs, KD decided to move on from the Bay Area. And to this date, there are a few who believe the Slim Reaper’s time with the Warriors’ trio ended too soon.

4x champion’s father, Mychal Thompson, has a few words to say about Kevin Durant and the GSW

Mychal Thompson, Klay’s father, is one of them. In an appearance on 95.7 The Game, the elder Thompson admitted that it was the only thing he regretted. “The only thing I regret about [Klay’s] time in the Bay Area is that the Kevin Durant, Steph, Draymond & Klay era ended way too soon. I wish that foursome could’ve stayed together and won 5 or 6 or 7 championships.“

The four of them, along with Andre Iguodala, have proved too much for their opponents. In fact, the popular ‘Death Lineup’ of the Warriors reached quite the heights with Durant, Thompson, Curry, and Iguodala on the court while Green moved to the center. Dray’s center position was what made the whole unit effective.

However, that wasn’t the only aspect of the Warriors’ time with Kevin Durant that makes many a fan pine over what was lost. Golden State is certainly better with the 2x champion on offense. Here’s a comparison of the Warriors’ offensive rating with and without KD for both the regular season and playoffs, as opposed to Stephen Curry.

As you can see, the GSW felt the absence of ‘Durantula’ the most in the playoffs. Not to mention, the Dubs had a 7.9 net rating when the 14x All-Star was part of the Bay Area dynasty. It increased to a whopping 10.0 during playoffs. Of course, this just barely skimming the surface of what Kevin Durant meant to the Warriors.

But you get the idea. It surely would have been something else had stayed with Stephen Curry & Co. The chances of the whole of them in possession of, at the very least, 5 rings cannot be dismissed. However, it appears that Papa Thompson is disappointed in something else, too.

“I was hoping and praying he’d finish his career with the Lakers,” Mychal on the decision of Klay Thompson

Mychal Thompson had very good reason to believe such a scenario could become reality. A 2x NBA champion with the Purple & Gold during his playing days, the former No. 1 pick, was sure that his son would choose the Lakers. It must have been Mychal’s influence that a little Klay became an avid LA fan. And he particularly idolized Lakers legend, Kobe Bryant (who did not?). However, when his son’s turn came for an NBA journey, Klay Thompson turned out to be a Warrior.

With the way things were taking shape back then, the Lakers’ current radio color commentator was sure his son was going to retire a Bay Area legend. But fate had something else in store for the 4x champion. Just like that, his father’s hope of seeing his son in a Purple & Gold jersey was rekindled, only to be extinguished just as fast.

“When he told me that the Lakers were talking to him, or going to talk to him, and the Mavs too, you know, obviously I tried to sell playing for the Lakers,” Thompson Sr. admitted to SiriusXM Radio’s “The Starting Lineup” hosts Brian Scalabrine and Frank Isola. But he was not in the least happy. ” I’m really disappointed … It was close. It came down to the Lakers and the Mavs, but the Mavs won out. But you know me, I was hoping and praying he’d finish his career with the Lakers.”

So did a lot of Sea Captain fans. Yes, he wouldn’t be a Warrior anymore. But he would at least still be in the Bay Area. Tough luck, but that’s just how life is.

 Before you go, though, be sure to check this video of Leonardo Armato’s take on the deadly duo, Shaq and Kobe. Don’t forget to check back in for more such updates from our ES Fancast!