A rupture of the cruciate ligaments, another of the Achilles tendon… And yet Klay Thompson hadn't come off the bench since his rookie season in 2011/12. However, this is the choice made by Steve Kerr in Utah last Thursday, to everyone's surprise. And in particular for Stephen Curry.
At the heart of a very sluggish season, both individually and in terms of results for the Warriors, Klay Thompson had one of his best matches of the campaign with this new substitute status.
“ It was weird“, conceded Stephen Curry in an interview with ESPN journalist Malika Andrews. “ I came off the bench a few times while he was starting, so it was strange to reverse the roles. »
Steve Kerr had never removed Klay Thompson from his starting five, despite his injuries in recent seasons, while Stephen Curry had sometimes been a substitute during his returns from injury, in the playoffs. Replaced by rookie Brandin Podziemski, “Klay” had passed 35 points at 7/13 from a distance at Jazz.
Find out how to keep winning
“ There was only one way for him to react: the way he showed » welcomed Stephen Curry. “ There have been a lot of stories surrounding this season and since he returned from his injuries, and many were unfair. I think the natural evolution of all our careers is trying to figure out how to continue to win, even though it might be a little different. The way he reacted, that's the Klay Thompson I know, the real competitor, the real guy. He was pissed and said 'look at that'. »
It remains to be seen if Klay Thompson can continue like this in the long term, his successes becoming more and more spaced out. Because the problem is that the Warriors no longer have time to lose to hope to move up the rankings.
Golden State is currently in 10th place in the Western Conference (27 wins – 26 losses) but remains on eight wins in their last ten games.
“ No matter how we develop, for us it's always about the success of our team, that's the basis of everything. And he is as important in this as anyone » assures Stephen Curry. It also remains to be known whether Klay Thompson will stay in the Bay for a long time, he who will be a free agent at the end of the season.
| Klay Thompson | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2011-12 | GOS | 66 | 24 | 44.3 | 41.4 | 86.8 | 0.4 | 2.1 | 2.4 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 12.5 |
| 2012-13 | GOS | 82 | 36 | 42.2 | 40.1 | 84.1 | 0.4 | 3.3 | 3.7 | 2.2 | 2.9 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 16.6 |
| 2013-14 | GOS | 81 | 35 | 44.4 | 41.7 | 79.5 | 0.5 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 2.2 | 2.9 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 18.4 |
| 2014-15 | GOS | 77 | 32 | 46.3 | 43.9 | 87.9 | 0.4 | 2.9 | 3.2 | 2.9 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 21.7 |
| 2015-16 | GOS | 80 | 33 | 47.0 | 42.5 | 87.3 | 0.4 | 3.4 | 3.8 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 22.1 |
| 2016-17 | GOS | 78 | 34 | 46.8 | 41.4 | 85.3 | 0.6 | 3.0 | 3.7 | 2.1 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 22.3 |
| 2017-18 | GOS | 73 | 34 | 48.8 | 44.0 | 83.7 | 0.4 | 3.4 | 3.8 | 2.5 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 20.0 |
| 2018-19 | GOS | 78 | 34 | 46.7 | 40.2 | 81.6 | 0.5 | 3.4 | 3.8 | 2.4 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 21.5 |
| 2021-22 | GOS | 32 | 29 | 42.9 | 38.5 | 90.2 | 0.5 | 3.4 | 3.9 | 2.8 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 20.4 |
| 2022-23 | GOS | 69 | 33 | 43.6 | 41.2 | 87.9 | 0.6 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 2.4 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 21.9 |
| 2023-24 | GOS | 50 | 31 | 42.1 | 37.3 | 91.8 | 0.5 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 17.3 |
| Total | 766 | 33 | 45.3 | 41.3 | 85.6 | 0.5 | 3.1 | 3.6 | 2.3 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 19.6 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
