Klay Thompson’s exit from the Golden State Warriors marked the end of an era, but new reports suggest that tension within the locker room may have been simmering long before his departure.
According to Tim Kawakami of the San Francisco Standard, speaking on The Tom Tolbert Show, Thompson may have felt increasingly threatened by Jordan Poole’s rise and his push for a starting role, an internal conflict that contributed to the Warriors' decision to move on from Poole after the 2022-23 season.
"Like Jordan Poole, maybe, but that wasn't Steve. We know that wasn't Steve. That was Draymond. They had to move off of Jordan for two reasons. Well, Draymond and Klay."
"And I've heard this more and more that Klay was not comfortable with this guy pushing him and pushing him and pushing him. And Klay thought, 'I've earned this starting role. Why is this guy keep saying that he should be the starter?'"
"And not publicly, maybe, so much as just in the way he carried himself. And that's fine for a young player, but they couldn't keep that guy, who got punched by Draymond, not his fault and who was making things tense with Klay. So that's Jordan. Whatever we think about where his career is now, I wouldn't put that on Kerr."
While Poole never publicly demanded a starting spot over Thompson, his body language, confidence, and demeanor reportedly created friction. The underlying tension came during a time of high expectations and shifting dynamics.
After missing over two years due to injury, Thompson returned midway through the 2021-22 season and helped the Warriors win their fourth championship in eight seasons.
Meanwhile, Poole had emerged as a breakout star in Thompson’s absence, showcasing scoring ability, playmaking flair, and big-game confidence. Golden State rewarded Poole with a four-year, $140 million extension ahead of the 2022-23 season, signaling that he was a major part of their future.
However, rather than smoothly transition into a two-headed backcourt dynamic, the Warriors encountered issues. Poole was relegated to a bench role while Thompson resumed his spot in the starting lineup.
Things came to a head during the 2022 training camp when Draymond Green infamously punched Poole during practice, a moment that fractured the team’s chemistry and became symbolic of the unrest within the locker room.
Throughout the 2022-23 season, Golden State struggled with consistency, especially on the road, and failed to recapture its championship form. They were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs, and the writing was on the wall.
Poole was traded to the Washington Wizards in the 2023 offseason, a move widely seen as a reset of the team’s culture and cap sheet. Thompson, meanwhile, completed his final season with Golden State in 2023-24 before signing with the Dallas Mavericks in the 2024 free agency.
Now in Dallas, Thompson is beginning a new chapter of his career, but it’s clear that the turbulence in Golden State, particularly the internal clash with Poole played a role in the eventual breakup of the dynasty.
While the “Splash Brothers” era defined the Warriors’ identity, the emergence of a younger guard like Poole and the conflict that followed revealed just how delicate locker room balance can be even among champions.
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