SUMMARY
- Klay Thompson, known for his exceptional shooting skills and defensive prowess, has been facing challenges with his performance recently.
- Thompson has been recovering from two major injuries, a torn ACL suffered and a torn Achilles tendon.
There’s no doubt that Klay Thompson makes the case to be one of the best shooters and defenders in the NBA. The 5-time All-Star and three-time NBA champion knows how to use his wingspan and other physical attributes well. The 34-year-old shooting guard/small forward has not been performing up to par lately.
Head coach Steve Kerr has made a conscious decision not to put Thompson in the starting five. This is the first time since his debut in 2012 that he is coming off the bench in one game after another. Well, Thompson’s trailing shooting skills are the reason to blame for this act to happen. In a recent ESPN interview, Stephen A. Smith said, “If Klay Thompson finds his shot again with Steph Curry playing the way he is playing, it changes everything.”
“Jonathan Kuminga has elevated his level of play… Defensively, [the Warriors have] really stepped up… If Klay Thompson finds his shot again with Steph Curry playing the way he’s playing… It changes everything.”
—Stephen A. Smith 🙌
(via @ESPN / YT)pic.twitter.com/v0XcX5bFlo
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 20, 2024
While the Golden State Warriors are trying to save their fading dynasty, Thompson must get in line with his shooting caliber. However, the recurrent injuries from past seasons seem to be affecting his gameplay.
Klay Thompson is recovering from a torn ACL and Achilles tendon injury
Thompson has gone through two major injuries and has missed over two years while trying to recover from them. The product of the Washington State Cougars men’s basketball team succumbed to a torn ACL on June 13, 2019. The star guard sustained a tear to his anterior cruciate ligament in Game 6 of the NBA Finals.
After being ruled out for the entire 2019–20 season, the star guard underwent surgery on July 2, 2019. It was not even a whole year before ‘Sea Captain’ felt a dreadful pop in his right leg. In November 2020, during a rigorous workout session, Thompson tore his Achilles tendon in his right leg. After undergoing surgery in November 2020, he was ruled out for another season.
Although the player recorded a return to the hardwood in January 2022 vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers, he could only score 17 points in 20 minutes. And this raises concerns about whether the team should trade ‘Game 6 Klay’ for a better player or not.
Should the Golden State Warriors trade another shooting guard to replace Klay Thompson?
As the league hit the February 8 trade deadline, it seemed like owner Joe Lacob and general manager Bob Myers had waived a white flag for the 2023–24 season. It’s a fact that the Bay Area team is undergoing a season filled with injuries. However, not trading any major players to handle the trailing shooting before Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green lose their championship-level potential seems like a big risk.
The Dubs Nation team doesn’t seem to be interested in trading Klay to fill the roster with a better shooting guard as of now. Thompson has played 50 games this season and is averaging 17.3 points per game, 3.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 42.1 shooting from the field. In times like these, Jonathan Kuminga brings a ray of light amidst the otherwise dull season.
Jonathan Kuminga is showcasing an MVP-caliber performance
The 21-year-old big man, Jonathan Kuminga has gained enough traction for his impressive performance lately. His over-the-top gameplay has even brought a major jump in his trade value, according to BVM Sports. He even climbed to 61st place in The Ringer’s Bill Simmons 2024 Trade Value Ranking.
It’s worth noting that since January 13, 2024, the player has given consecutive 20+ point performances. Although his scores have plummeted in the last 2 games, the player is averaging 15.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.9 assists, with 53.4% shooting from the deep. With such a score, the star forward is flirting with MVP-calibre performance and is no doubt one of the key Warriors’ players now.