Klay Thompson might not be done with the Golden State Warriors forever. And he made that much clear to one fan who caught him at an autograph signing recently.
A video circulating on social media shows a Warriors fan telling Thompson, now with the Dallas Mavericks, that he’s missed back in the Bay Area. Thompson’s response? Short and simple.
“Never say never,” he said.
The whole exchange lasted maybe 10 seconds. The fan told the four-time champion they wanted him back. Thompson smiled, delivered the line, and moved on. But for Warriors fans still nursing the sting of watching him leave in free agency two summers ago, that was enough to start the speculation engine all over again.
Thompson’s contract situation with Dallas
Thompson is entering the final season of a three-year, $50 million deal he signed with the Mavericks. That means by next summer, he’ll be an unrestricted free agent at age 36. Assuming he still wants to play, there’s no contractual hurdle stopping him from returning to Golden State if both sides wanted it.
Nobody inside the Warriors organization has said anything publicly about a reunion. And Thompson hasn’t hinted at it beyond this brief fan interaction. But the door is at least cracked open, which is more than a lot of people expected when he left.
How Klay once got a Workaholics star into a Warriors party
Speaking of Thompson and his Warriors connections, there’s a pretty great story from actor Blake Anderson that resurfaced recently. Anderson, best known for Comedy Central’s Workaholics, ran into Thompson by chance the night Golden State won the 2017 title.
Anderson recalled the moment on social media. He and his brother were walking, trying to figure out how to get an Uber to wherever they were going. Then an SUV pulled up and someone yelled his name. It was Thompson, hanging out the window.
Thompson didn’t just say hello. He got Anderson and his brother into the official championship afterparty. Anderson said it was one of those nights he’ll never forget, just because a player he barely knew recognized him and decided to bring him along.
That story has nothing to do with whether Thompson might eventually return to Golden State. But it’s a reminder that his relationship with the Warriors organization runs deeper than just basketball. He spent 13 years there, won four rings, and built genuine friendships along the way.
Whether that leads to an actual reunion remains to be seen. But if another fan catches him at a signing next year and asks the same question, don’t be surprised if the answer is the same.
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