Lakers fans were not alone in their disappointment over Klay Thompson choosing the Mavericks over the Lakers as a free agent. Thompson’s father, Mychal Thompson, also expressed his disappointment upon learning of his son’s decision.
During the latest episode of “NBA Radio” on SiriusXM, Mychal revealed that he wasn’t “in a congratulatory mood” when he heard the news of Klay joining Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving in Dallas.
“I’m really disappointed,” Mychal said. “I was hoping he would be a Laker. It was close, it came down to the Lakers and the Mavs, but the Mavs won out. I was hoping and praying he’d finish his career with the Lakers.”
Mychal admitted he tried to persuade Klay to return to Los Angeles, where he grew up a Lakers fan and idolized Kobe Bryant. “The franchise has been so good to me and my family, including Klay. He grew up a Laker fan, idolizing Kobe Bryant. It seemed like the perfect fit for him to come back home. We always talked about him playing for the Lakers. When the chance came, he chose the Mavericks.”
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Klay chose the Mavericks for two main reasons: the favorable state income taxes in Texas and his admiration for the Mavericks’ performance in their 2024 NBA Finals run.
Klay signed a three-year, $50 million deal with the Mavericks, marking the first time in his career he will not be wearing Warriors colors, starting with the 2024-25 season.
