Part of rising to become (arguably) the NBA's dominant franchise is undergoing a lot of scrutiny. Such can be said about the Golden State Warriors, especially in recent months, given the possibility of losing two key players at the end of the current season: Kevin Durant, and Klay Thompson.
Much of the focus is on Durant, who is expected to take his talents elsewhere. The initial expectation for Thompson to remain in Golden State is fizzling out as the playoffs continue. When speaking about the 29-year-old, Stephen A. Smith said that he's "tired of sitting around... and getting 'the crumbs' left behind by other people."
Despite this, it's apparent the Warriors identify him as an integral piece of the team. In an interview with ESPN's Nick Friedell, coach Steve Kerr made the team's stance on Thompson clear. "I know that everybody -- coaches, management, ownership -- everybody wants Klay back," he said. "I think the feeling is just, Klay wants to be here, we want Klay." Kerr went on to give praise, calling him "just a rock, an absolute rock as a foundational piece for our franchise."
Thompson, who was drafted in 2011, has spent his entire professional career playing for the Warriors, and played an integral role in their three championships. When asked about the significance of staying with the organization, the shooting guard told ESPN, "You appreciate the work it takes to get there. It's simple. I just appreciate how long it took to get to the mountaintop, the work it did, and just seeing how -- empower people in the community and really build this fan base to something special."
But before any decisions are made, the Warriors must win tonight's game against the Houston Rockets, as the series is tied 2-2.
