Klay Thompson will soon don a jersey that doesn’t bear the name of the only NBA franchise for which he’s ever played. Don’t fret too much right now about his future in the Bay Area, though, Dub Nation. As the Golden State Warriors star prepares to enter free agency come June 30th, he’s reportedly elected to train with the Bahamian National Team ahead of the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Thompson will take part in Team Bahamas’ training camp in Houston this week, according to Shams Charania and Anthony Slater of The Athletic. However, he is “not expected” to compete with the Bahamas in Olympic qualifying come early July or any other competition this summer, requiring a release from USA Basketball and clearance from FIBA before suiting up for another country on the international stage.
Thompson won gold with Team USA at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, also taking home gold medals with the Americans at the 2014 FIBA World Cup and 2009 U-19 World Championships. His father, former Los Angeles Lakers big Mychal Thompson, was born in the Bahamas, making Thompson eligible for the Bahamian national team if he hadn’t previously played for the Americans.
Last August, the four-time NBA champion indicated he would “consider” playing for the Caribbean country in international competitions going forward in part because his father never had that opportunity. His older brother is an assistant coach with Team Bahamas, too.
“When that time comes, I’ll give it serious consideration just because of what the Bahamas has meant to the Thompson family, especially my father,” Thompson said in the Philippines, per Naveen Ganglani of 5 Reasons Sports.
“He never had a chance to play for the national team just because they didn’t. They just didn’t have the chance back in the’ 70s or the ’80s. And now my brother’s coaching with them is also very cool. But right now, I’m really focused on the season. And when that time comes next summer, I’ll give it consideration.”
Here’s Klay on his thoughts of this current roster of USA Basketball and how he would be open in the future to play for his father’s homeland, the Bahamas – currently led by the likes of Buddy Hield, Deandre Ayton, and Eric Gordon. Klay’s bro is a coach. pic.twitter.com/849xbjgnpH
— Naveen Ganglani (@naveenganglani) August 31, 2023
Team Bahamas is coming off its must successful pre-Olympic qualifying tournament ever, winning a spot in the qualifying tournament for Paris last summer. The team is led by NBA veterans Deandre Ayton, Buddy Hield and Eric Gordon.
‘Mutual interest’ between Klay Thompson, Magic in free agency
Barring an unlikely agreement between he and the Warriors before then, Thompson will enter free agency on June 30th as one of the most sought after players on the market. Extension discussions between his camp and Golden State went nowhere during the regular season, stasis that increased the odds of Thompson leaving the Dubs on the open market this summer—especially after his disastrous 0-10 performance in the team’s play-in tournament loss to the Sacramento Kings.
The Warriors’ dynasty power brokers—Steve Kerr, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green—have made it abundantly clear over and over that they want Thompson to return. But owner Joe Lacob has publicly mulled cutting back on spending in 2024-25, potentially even dipping below the luxury tax. Parting ways with Chris Paul’s non-guaranteed $30 million salary slot is the most seamless means of that objective, though failed extension talks with Thompson could mean he’s imply seeking one final, big payday Golden State is uncomfortable affording him.
One team possibly ready to break the bank for Thompson? The Orlando Magic, who The Athletic reported again on Monday remain a viable destination for Thompson in free agency.
“There remains mutual interest between Thompson and the Orlando Magic, according to league sources. The Warriors have made clear they want to bring Thompson back at the right price and in the right role.”
There’s still a chance Golden State largely hits pause this summer, re-signing Thompson and bringing its deep core back for one more season. But if the second Splash Brother ends up elsewhere, the Warriors are bound to be in for their most transformational offseason since 2016..
