Brian Windhorst explains why the Mavericks made more sense than the Lakers for Klay Thompson. (1:12)
The Lakers were extremely intriguing to Klay Thompson, sources said, but the financial savings from living in Texas over California and the fact that the Mavericks came within three victories of an NBA championship were big factors in his decision.
"You know, because, I mean, obviously it's Klay's decision. It's his life," Mychal Thompson said on the radio show. "He's a grown man, 34 years of age, just like we were 34 at one time. And our fathers used to give us advice and, you know, we would choose our own path and that's fine, that's what life is supposed to be .
"... I'm really disappointed. I was hoping, as you can assess, that he would be a Laker. And it was close. It came down to the Lakers and the Mavs, but the Mavs won out. But you know me, I was hoping and praying he'd finish his career with the Lakers."
Mychal Thompson played for the "Showtime" Lakers from 1987 to 1991 and won two NBA championships in that span.
"When he told me that the Lakers were talking to him, or going to talk to him ... obviously I tried to sell playing for the Lakers," Mychal Thompson, who is a radio analyst for Lakers games, said. "Obviously that's the right thing for me to do and the proper thing for me to do. And I felt like it was the correct thing for me to do because I really believe in this franchise.
"The franchise has been so good to me and my family, including Klay. He grew up a Laker fan. He grew up idolizing Kobe Bryant like most players his age, most kids his age. So I just thought it seemed like it would be the perfect fit for him to finally come back home."
We've got everything you need to prepare for a busy summer in the NBA.
• Free agent buzz: Latest intel and news • Pelton: Free agent grades | Trades • Shelburne Philly's long wait for PG • Herring Knicks, Sixers shake East up • Windhorst: Welcome to the 'apron era' • Pelton: Top 20 available free agents • Offseason calendar | All free agents
"We always talked him playing for the Lakers," Mychal Thompson said. "If he was not a Golden State Warrior, where else would he want to play? And of course, being a fan of Kobe's, he would've loved to have played for the Lakers.
