Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr told reporters after his team’s 126-116 home win over ex-Dubs superstar shooting guard Klay Thompson and the Dallas Mavericks on Christmas Day that he wishes the five-time All-Star was still playing in the Bay Area.

Thompson was a member of the Warriors from 2011-2024. Kerr joined the team as its head coach in 2014.

Over his 11 seasons in town, Thompson averaged 19.6 points on 45.3 percent shooting (41.3 percent from three). In addition to his five All-Star Games, the former Washington State star was a two-time All-NBA player who helped the team win NBA championships in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022. He was an invaluable member of a dynasty and will forever be a legend in the Bay Area.

It’s clear why Kerr misses Thompson, who left Golden State for free agency in 2024 on a three-year, $50 million contract.

This season has been a tough one for the 35-year-old Thompson, who is averaging 11.0 points on 36.9 percent shooting. There have also been some trade rumors surrounding Thompson this year, per ESPN’s Anthony Slater and Tim MacMahon.

“Dallas’ new front office is expected to explore his trade market near the deadline. Thompson’s desire is to play for a contender, league sources said, but the $17 million owed to him next season could make him challenging to move,” the ESPN duo wrote on Dec. 18.

“The circumstances have changed since I signed here — I mean, obviously the personnel,” Thompson previously said. “But we still have a very talented team, and at the end of the day, I’m playing to win and nothing’s changed. My goals remain the same.”

Thompson joined a Mavs team that (a) had just made the NBA Finals and (b) was led by five-time All-NBA guard Luka Dončić. Dallas traded Dončic last February to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Mavericks didn’t make the playoffs last year and may not this year after a 12-20 start. So the circumstances have certainly changed in town since he signed.

There haven’t been any rumors connecting Thompson back to the Warriors, although it’s clear his old Splash Brothers teammate, Stephen Curry, would welcome it, per ESPN.

“I wish he was still here,” Curry said, per Slater and MacMahon. “…It would be unbelievable. If that time comes and that conversation is had, of course I’m calling him and saying, ‘We want you back.’ And hopefully that would be a welcome message to him. But as we stand right now, that does seem like a far distant reality. But so did him leaving.”

We’ll see if anything goes down on the Thompson trade front this year soon enough, as this year’s deadline is set for Feb. 5.