Although Klay started the season as a starter for the Warriors, he eventually began coming off the bench for the team, and actually excelled in that role through much of the second half of the season.

Klay also admitted that he'd had conversations with head coach Steve Kerr about whether he was still enjoying playing the game.

“The answer frequently was no,” Steve told The San Francisco Chronicle. “So my next question was, ‘Then why do you care about a contract extension? Why don’t you just retire? If you’re not having fun, there’s no reason to play.’"

Ultimately, though, Klay seems unlikely to retire from the league. Like most professional athletes, he's hoping to play the game for as long as he can.

“It’s almost like grappling with your own mortality as an athlete,” Klay said of aging in recent years. “I might not be able to elevate like I once did, or slide my feet like I once did. But I can still be a heck of a player if I just have gratitude and keep that perspective."

“Now I’ve got to pick my spots a lot more," he added. "I’ve finally come to accept, ‘Look, I can still be a heck of a player and be incredibly efficient, as long as I’m having fun and being a good teammate.’ ”