All Steph Curry wants for Christmas is Klay Thompson back
With the Warriors struggling and Klay hardly thriving in Dallas, Curry isn’t hiding his hope for a Splash Brothers reunion.
Since parting ways after 13 historic seasons together (2011-2024), neither the Warriors nor Klay Thompson have enjoyed smooth sailing. Golden State is relying on a veteran core. - Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler, Al Horford - but sits below .500 in the Western Conference (13-15), with lingering frustration after a second-round playoff exit last season against the Timberwolves. That came after a brutal seven-game first-round series against the Houston Rockets, during which Curry suffered an injury.
Klay Thompson’s struggles in Dallas
Klay’s situation hasn’t been any better. Leaving a Warriors team that no longer believed he could reach his peak, Thompson sought a championship opportunity elsewhere. He passed on the Lakers, the team of his youth and where his father won a title, to join the Dallas Mavericks and chase a ring alongside then-finalists Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. But Texas has been challenging. Klay has faced repeated losses and the fallout from Doncic’s trade drama, leaving him on a team with lower expectations than he likely envisioned. He turns 36 on February 8 and is once again the subject of trade rumors ahead of the February 5 deadline. The Mavericks could look to recoup value, and Klay could welcome another chance to compete for what would be his fifth championship ring.
Splash Brothers reunion talk heats up
The most intriguing rumor, however, is the possibility of Klay returning to the Bay Area. Curry fueled the speculation in his ESPN interview, clearly expressing his desire to reunite with Thompson and bring back the Splash Brothers: “I’d love for him to be back on the team.”
Klay signed with Dallas for three years and roughly $50 million amid murky reports about Golden State’s offers to keep him. ESPN notes that Thompson still harbors frustration with Warriors management and owner Joe Lacob, a sentiment echoed by journalists close to the player: “He felt he had given everything to that organization and its owner, Lacob, but by that point they saw him as damaged goods.”
Curry’s influence on Thompson
Curry is candid about his intentions: “It would be amazing. If the chance comes, if the timing works, of course I’ll call him and tell him ‘we want you here.’” According to an anonymous source, “No one carries more weight in Klay’s opinion than Steph.”
Does Klay Thompson want a Warriors return?
Thompson has left the door open for a potential return: “Who knows? There’s a lot of basketball ahead. I can’t predict what the future holds.” With the current situations in Golden State and Dallas, anything is possible.
Curry shared a personal perspective, recounting how his young son notices Klay on TV and asks why he isn’t playing alongside his former teammate: “Those are the moments when you realize it’s deep. Everything evolves, but there are things that remind you how special it was and, unfortunately, the reality of where things stand now.” At minimum, Curry wants Klay to sign a ceremonial one-day contract to retire officially as a Warrior. But perhaps, against the odds, the Splash Brothers could be back on the court together in Golden State.
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