May 23 (UPI) — Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson was shocked when reporters told him that he failed to make an All-NBA team Thursday.
After failing to be selected to an All-NBA team, Thompson won’t be eligible to sign a five-year super-max contract worth $221 million this off-season. Instead, the guard will only be eligible to ink a five-year max deal worth $191 million with the Warriors once he becomes a free agent July 1.
“I didn’t? It already came out?” Thompson said after being told of the snub. “I mean that’s cool and all but like when you go to five straight Finals, I respect those guys but when you go to five straight it takes more than just a couple All-NBA guys. It’s like an all-time team, but whatever. I’d rather win a championship than be third-team All-NBA, so it’s all good.”
A panel of media members selects the All-NBA teams. The individuals pick two guards, two forwards and one center for each of the first, second and third teams. Thompson took the high road when asked whether All-NBA voting should impact extra money in contracts.
“It is what it is,” Thompson said. “I can’t control it. Do I think there’s that many guards better than me in the league? No. But that’s the reason we’re still playing so I don’t even want to get into it, honestly.”
Guards Stephen Curry and James Harden were selected to the first team, Kyrie Irving and Damian Lillard were picked for the second team and Kemba Walker and Russell Westbrook composed the third team.
Thompson finished the regular season with 21.5 points per game on 46.7 percent shooting from the field. He is averaging 19.1 points and 1.5 steals in the postseason.
The Warriors play the winner of the Toronto Raptors-Milwaukee Bucks series in the NBA Finals.
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