Life as a rookie in the NBA can be tough. Players are faced with adjusting to better competition, they are tasked with some unwanted jobs and, as Alen Smailagic found out, sometimes you have your seat stolen.
As the Golden State Warriors hosted the Houston Rockets on Christmas Day, Smailagic was on the active roster and with his teammates on the bench. But, when Klay Thompson showed up to the bench after the first quarter started, the second-round pick was forced to move.
Of course, Thompson is out this season due to a torn ACL but has been around the team throughout the year, cheering his teammates on. He served as a guest analyst earlier this season and also made Smailagic sit on the floor on Wednesday, as Marcus Thompson of The Athletic witnessed.
Injured star Klay Thompson showed up to the bench about 8 minutes into the first quarter. Smailagic got jacked for his seat. He ended up on the baseline floor. Rookie life
— Marcus Thompson (@ThompsonScribe) December 25, 2019
Smailagic has spent the majority of the season in the G League with the Santa Cruz Warriors. Head coach Steve Kerr has indicated Smailagic will eventually make his NBA debut this season but the rookie has yet to do so.
In the meantime, his seat is apparently still up for grabs…
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