Four-time NBA champion Klay Thompson is ending his two-year chapter with the 'Dallas Mavericks' and will soon join the 'Miami Heat'. This was reported by sport.rbc.ua citing ESPN insider Shams Charania. According to the source, the 36-year-old guard has agreed with the management of the Texas club on a contract buyout: he had one year left on his agreement with a salary of $17.5 million, but the parties parted ways by mutual consent.

Split with 'Dallas': buyout by mutual consent

Formally, the deal is structured as a contract buyout, with the initiative coming from the player himself. Thompson expressed his desire to change the environment, explaining that he does not see the current 'Mavericks' roster as a real contender for the championship. For a guard used to competing for titles, this is a key argument: continuing in Texas did not match his ambitions at the final stage of his career.

Why 'Miami' was chosen, not 'Golden State' or 'Lakers'

Amid rumors of a possible return to the 'Golden State Warriors' — the team where Thompson spent most of his career — or a move to the 'Los Angeles Lakers', the player chose the 'Miami Heat'. According to insiders, in Florida he will sign a two-year deal worth almost $13 million. Thus, financially, the new contract is inferior to the remaining year in Dallas, but it gives the player a chance to fight for a title in a different context.

Season stats in Texas and a historical achievement

Last season, Thompson played 69 regular-season games, averaging 11.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 21.7 minutes on the court, with a 38.3% shooting percentage from beyond the arc. By the end of the season, he surpassed Damian Lillard and moved into fourth place in NBA history for career three-pointers made — 2,899. This underscores that even as a veteran, he remains one of the league's most productive sharpshooters.

Career portfolio: four rings and titles with the national team

For most of his career (2011–2024), Thompson played for the 'Golden State Warriors', where he won four NBA championship rings, was selected to five All-Star Games, and won the Three-Point Contest. As part of the USA national team, he is the 2014 World Cup champion and the 2016 Olympic champion. The move to 'Miami' marks a new chapter for one of the most decorated shooters in league history.

Contradictory data

In various publications, the status of the deal at the time of publication was formulated inconsistently. In some sources (specifically sports.ru), there was only talk of 'serious interest' from 'Miami' in Thompson, i.e., the negotiation stage, whereas in materials from sport.rbc.ua, sport-express.ru, and ridus.ru, it was already reported about the fact of the contract buyout and the upcoming signing of a two-year agreement. The difference is explained by chronology: first, the club's interest was recorded, then ESPN insider Shams Charania confirmed the completion of the deal. In addition, in the primary text, the player's age is stated as 36 years, which requires verification with passport data for further verification, although this does not affect the essence of the transfer.