With 37 points in the third quarter alone last night (no, that is not a typo – he dropped 37 points in ONE quarter), Klay Thompson made NBA history, surpassing George Gervin’s previous record of 33 points in a quarter. His 52 point performance against Sacramento caps off what has been a fantastic first half of the season for the fourth year pro. Thompson has flourished into one of the best shooting guards in the NBA and is an instrumental piece to the success of the thriving Golden State Warriors, who own an NBA-best record of 35-6 at the midway point. The questions that now arise are: Does Thompson deserve all-star recognition? Will he ever overtake Stephen Curry?
Thompson’s performance last night was one for the ages, and it also revealed the complete player that he has become. During the third quarter, he scored in a variety of ways, showing off his skillfulness on the offensive end. He hit three pointers in transition, off of screens, and in one-on-one situations that were both open and contested. He also attacked the basket off the dribble, blowing by multiple defenders. Lastly, and arguably most impressively, Thompson finished a gorgeous alley-oop pass from his fellow splash brother with one-handed dunk. He finished the quarter shooting 13-13 from the field, 9-9 from beyond the arc, and 2-2 from the free throw line. Needless to say, Thompson revealed versatility and efficiency on the offensive end that he didn’t necessarily have earlier in his career. Before he got drafted, many pundits claimed that Klay Thompson could only be a spot-up shooter in the league and that he was too soft to attack the basket by driving into the lane, but he has surely proven them wrong. He now averages 22.6 points per game, just 0.2 points less than his teammate and NBA leading All-Star vote-getter, Stephen Curry. Not only is Thompson scoring more points than he has in the past, but he is doing so efficiently, shooting 46% from three point range and 48% from the field overall, not to mention an elite 87% clip from the foul line. Klay Thompson is an emerging star in the NBA who has developed a dynamic and explosive offensive repertoire.
A few days ago, Klay Thompson was a borderline candidate to make the All-Star team in the highly competitive Western Conference. However, after injuries to Kobe Bryant and LaMarcus Aldridge, as well as his masterful 52 point performance, Thompson appears to be a lock to make the team. He is the second best payer on the NBA’s best team and attracts the opposing defense’s attention on a nightly basis, making this honor well-deserved. With an all-star appearance in the bag, the next question is, where does he rank among shooting guards in the NBA? James Harden is clearly the best in the business, but the next few slots remain wide open. Dwyane Wade’s stock has fallen, while Klay Thompson and Jimmy Butler’s values have risen. Both Butler and Thompson have contrasting styles; Butler brings more defense and grit, while Thompson offers the capability to hit a jumpshot from anywhere on the floor. In my opinion, I would build a team around Butler before I do with Thompson, but it truly is a toss-up.
Klay Thompson’s third quarter for the history books was captivating to watch for any basketball fan, but it also signified his improvement over the years. His teammate, Stephen Curry, is simply a much better passer, ball handler, and playmaker than Thompson will every become, which is why I doubt Klay Thompson ever challenges Curry as the best basketball player in the Bay Area. Regardless, Thompson is an elite shooting guard ready to make even more noise; he should continue to score in an abundance of ways while making multiple All-Star teams. The Dubs certainly have themselves a backcourt built for a long period of success.
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