The Golden State Warriors are on a five-game losing streak. Their strong start to the season is consigned to memory. Part of the team’s struggles has been a lack of offense outside Steph Curry. Klay Thompson has struggled to fulfill his role as a secondary scorer, specifically in terms of knocking down perimeter shots.
The former All-Star is shooting 32.9% from 3-point range, almost 10% lower than his career average. He’s providing just 13.8 points per game. As such, Stephen A. Smith believes Thompson’s ability to help the Warriors win a championship should be in question. The ESPN analyst isn’t sure how Thompson will help his team win a championship if he’s unable to convert his perimeter shots.
“Somebody has to put Klay Thompson on notice,” Smith said. “My brother, you look like you have slipped tremendously. … If Klay Thompson isn’t shooting the ball at an elite level, what use is there for him any longer? I’m talking about championship expectations. He’ll always have a place on the team. He’s a leader. He’s a great player. A future Hall of Famer. But, the Klay Thompson we’re seeing right now, I don’t recognize him.”
The Warriors are 13 games into the 2023-24 season. They have multiple players dealing with a slow start. Thompson is more than capable of snapping out his shooting slump and reminding everybody of his elite shot-making capabilities.
"Somebody has to put Klay Thompson on notice. … If Klay Thompson isn't shooting the ball at an elite level, what use is there for him any longer?"
—@stephenasmith pic.twitter.com/QHvpvOZAyC
— First Take (@FirstTake) November 16, 2023
Despite Thompson’s scoring troubles, he has remained a valuable member of the rotation, playing good defense and stretching opposing defenses with his scoring gravity and movement. Once his shot starts to fall, he will quickly re-establish himself as one of the most important players on the Warriors roster.
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