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“Your Rings Mean Nothing”: Gilbert Arenas Suggests Klay Thompson Will Have Limited Role If He Leaves Warriors

Published 04/17/2024, 9:41 PM EDT

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USA Today via Reuters

Gilbert Arenas thrashed sharpshooter Klay Thompson following his disastrous night in Sacramento. The 34-year-old star went 0-10 FG during the do-or-die game against the Sacramento Kings, ending the Dubs’ 2023-24 campaign. Following the game, the NBA world debated over the future of the 4x NBA Champ in the Golden State Warriors fold. Amid all the noise, Gilbert Arenas suggested a limited role for China Klay in other franchises. In the latest episode of Gil’s Arena, they also debated Thompson’s lineage in the Warriors dynasty.

Arenas was quick to respond, by saying, “He has four, but that’s not his lineage… You’re (Klay) a spot-up shooter.” Then he went on to criticize the star for his inability to create his shots. He stated that Klay depended on teammates and came off the screen to shoot. Arenas suggested Klay move to the Dallas Mavericks to Tim Hardaway Jr. or move to the Phoenix Suns to replace Grayson Allen, as he argued that they play a similar role. Importantly, he also took a dig at the Dubs star’s famous four-finger response!

USA Today via Reuters

Arenas said, “I can’t take your four rings and say, ‘I am gonna get rid of Jaylen Brown’ and then give you the ball to create, and you don’t create your buckets. Your rings mean nothing to me.” He definitely didn’t seem impressed with the Dubs’ game last night. Steph had a lonely game, dropping 22 points with double defense set on him throughout the game. Apart from Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody’s 32 points together, SC didn’t receive any support. After the game, the fans and critics were quick to declare the end of the Warriors’ dynasty.

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Some fans even claimed that the play-in game at Sacramento was the last game between the Big 3, leaving a big question open for the 2024 off-season. Will Klay Thompson continue his career with the Dubs?

Could Orlando Magic rope in Klay Thompson after the disastrous night?

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Interestingly, Thompson approaches his free agency in the off-season and he is yet to sign an extension with the Dubs. Earlier in the season, he has reportedly declined a $48 million offer from Joe Lacob. Following that, a report suggested that the Orlando Magic have set their eyes on the sharpshooter. He would immediately improve Magic’s offensive rating, who are currently ranked in the bottom 10 in the NBA for ppg, 3Ps made per game, and 3p% too.

Also, they already have a decent defensive setup, so the expectation for Klay to fit into a two-way role would be a lot less. While Thompson had a great season since his earlier slump, averaging 20 points in the last 20 games, the latest performance could stand as a hurdle. Even if they don’t straight away change their mind, they might offer him a smaller contract.

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On the other hand, Thompson isn’t merely a spot-up shooter.

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During the non-Steph minutes on the floor, Steve Kerr orchestrated the majority of his play with Klay Thompson, as per veteran analyst Colin Cowherd. Cowherd emphasized, “I thought their core that they don’t want to move is Steph, Klay, Draymond, and Podz.” Moreover, the star doesn’t get enough credit for his work with the rookie Trayce Jackson-Davis near the rim.

Do you think that the Warriors will walk past Thompson’s efforts and refuse to offer him an extension? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by:

Shahul Hameed

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Shahul Hameed is a Senior NBA Writer at EssentiallySports. Armed with a Master's Degree in journalism from a distinguished institute, his journey into sports writing began during his college days, and since then, Shahul has been captivated not only by the remarkable consistency of Stephen Curry but also by the enduring legacy of LeBron James. He specializes in covering the live basketball action.
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Edited by:

Daniel D'Cruz