NBA legend Charles Barkley recently startled basketball enthusiasts with a rather grim forecast about the Golden State Warriors’ future.
This proclamation came as NBA on TNT aired a rather shocking graphic that said, “BYE BYE WARRIORS” in bold terming them as the 10th seed in the Western Conference.
This follows a dismal performance by the team in the most recent play-in tournament, bowed out with a record of 46-36.
Klay Thompson, one of the prolific figures in the championship-winning team, faced a disheartening finale.
The stalwart player finished a crucial play-in game without scoring a point. Lamentably, he exhibited a zero-point game for the first time since his rookie year in 2011.
Sadly, this wasn’t a periodic incident for Thompson. This disappointing performance marked the fifth time in his illustrious career that he went without a field goal, according to ESPN statistics.
Thompson, aged 34, missed all his ten shots and shockingly, didn’t make a single three-pointer out of his six attempts in the Golden 1 Center, which could potentially be his final game as a Warrior.
His regular-season stats at an average of 17.9 points with 38.7% success from 3 was nowhere to be seen in the game against the Kings.
Following the game, the visibly upset player was seen hugging his teammates, possibly anticipating an undesirable farewell.
Thompson’s gloomy look around the court before exiting didn’t escape the scrutinizing eyes of spectators.
"He's not gonna get better. He's gonna make less money but he ain't gonna get no better. Older people don't get — sports ain't for old people. They're for young people."
– Charles Barkley paints a grim outlook for Klay Thompson and the Warriors. pic.twitter.com/rGfhuU9vDk
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 17, 2024
“He’s not gonna get better,” the Hall of Famer said on TNT. “He’s gonna make less money but he ain’t gonna get no better. Older people don’t get — sports ain’t for old people. They’re for young people, that’s no disrespect.
“Klay is a Hall of Famer, but he’s lowered his number, but just because he’s lowered his number doesn’t mean he’s going to play better as he ages. It doesn’t work like that.”
The Warriors are “in serious trouble” because they will have to “make a hard decision” on Thompson’s future in the Bay. “Klay is not going to get young,” Barkley said. “Do you sign him for three or four more years — which he won’t. That’s the elephant in the room because they gotta make a decision on him. Listen, we all love Klay and Klay wants a max deal. He’s not going to get a max deal.
“But you see he’s compromised because of the ACL and the Achilles. Do you still sign him to three or four years what he wants? How can you get younger if you’re going to sign him?”
Then, Kenny Smith suggested that Thompson “could play better in a second unit role.”
Golden State’s regime might be nearing its twilight. Questions are being raised about dispatching the veteran trio of Thompson, Steph Curry, and Draymond Green.
Golden State Warriors are yet to taste victory in a play-in tournament game, losing thrice so far. Moreover, they’ve won only a single playoff series following their championship sweep in 2022.
