Draymond Green has voiced concerns about the expectations surrounding Klay Thompson's move to the Miami Heat, urging fans and media to adopt a more realistic outlook based on his current career stage and injury history.
Green, speaking on his podcast "The Draymond Green Show," stated that he dislikes the way people are discussing Thompson's arrival in Miami, suggesting it could be setting him up for failure. "Let's stop acting like it's 2017 Klay going to Miami," Green said. He compared the situation to Ray Allen's move to the Heat in 2012, expressing a hope for a similar, role-adjusted acceptance.
Thompson, a long-time teammate of Green's with the Golden State Warriors, has faced significant injury setbacks since 2019, including a torn ACL during the 2019 NBA Finals and a ruptured Achilles in November 2020. He returned to play in January 2022 but has struggled to consistently recapture the dominant scoring form that defined his earlier career.
In the 2024 season, Thompson's struggles with three-point shooting led to him being benched by the Warriors. He appeared in 69 games last year, starting only eight, and posted a career-low 38.3% from beyond the arc. Green acknowledged Thompson's enduring shooting ability, noting that "he shoots the lights out of the ball, and when he's 60, he'll be able to shoot the lights out of the ball." However, he emphasized the importance of acknowledging Thompson's 16th year in the league and the impact of past injuries.
Green's comments aim to manage public expectations for Thompson, focusing on the contribution he can realistically make rather than comparing him to his past peak performance.