And we’re back with another episode of “Is he overrated?”.
This segment sees us debate whether or not a player in the NBA is overrated.
This time we are looking at one half of the Splash Brothers, Klay Thompson.
The Golden State Warriors‘ shooting guard is currently out for the year with a torn Achilles tendon.
Klay is missing his second consecutive season due to injury.
We will have to go back to the 2018-19 season for Thompson’s most recent stats.
But with that said, let’s get to the debate.
Klay is Maybe the Greatest Pure Shooter Ever
Stephen Curry is the more talented half of the Splash Brothers.
And rightfully so – his shooting ability and playstyle completely altered the way basketball is played today.
Teams put an emphasis on players that can shoot the 3 and defend multiple positions to allow them to switch across screens.
But there is an argument to be made that Klay is the better pure shooter between the two.
Klay Thompson’s form is a perfect. 👌🏻 (via @NBATV) pic.twitter.com/KVyswwB5EQ
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) June 8, 2019
Curry does have the better numbers from 3 for his career.
43.5% from 3 on 8.3 attempts per game compared to 41.9% on 7 attempts per game for Klay.
But Thompson has a nearly perfect shooting form and has a history of getting scorching hot from 3.
(2015) Klay Thompson drops 37 in one quarter. [9/9 3PT, 13/13 FG]
(2016) 60 points in 29 minutes.
(2018) NBA record 14 threes in less than 3 quarters. [52 points]
Unbelievable. pic.twitter.com/V6PZ9i6PEn
— Timeless Sports (@timelesssports_) October 30, 2018
He is 19th all-time in terms of 3-pointers made and 14th all-time in 3-point shooting percentage.
Curry is a generational talent in terms of shooting.
But Klay was a key part of the offense that made Curry so lethal.
Elite Two-Way Player
Klay’s shooting is only one of his elite talents.
He is equally adept on the defensive end.
Draymond Green gets most of the attention, but Klay plays an important role.
He received votes for DPOY in 2017-18 and made the All-Defensive 2nd Team in 2018-19.
KLAY THOMPSON, FIRST TEAM ALL-DEFENSE pic.twitter.com/vDiOp9bVnL
— Chris Montano (@gswchris) May 5, 2019
His defensive ability allows the Warriors to hide Steph on the less talented guard.
This lets Curry save his energy for the offensive end where he is historically great.
The Warriors consistently allowed fewer points per 100 possessions with Klay on the court than when he was off.
While the numbers are not always there, he passes the eye test.
Thompson’s role on defense in the Warriors scheme is a key reason why Golden State had one of the league’s stingiest defenses during their 5-year run of dominance.
Overrated?
As with any player, whether or not they are overrated depends on the standard they are being judged against.
If you consider Klay to be someone who could lead a team to a championship, then he would be overrated.
But seeing him for what he is – a 2-way wing with elite shooting and wing defense – he is not overrated.
Thompson provides everything a team looks for in a modern-day 3-and-D wing.
He can switch between multiple positions on defense and hold his own against some of the league’s elite offensive talents.
Steve Kerr talks Klay Thompson's toughness and the importance of his presence.#NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/eDWww8xDeo
— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 5, 2018
His fit into any offense is seamless as he does not require the ball in his hands to score.
Klay is one of the best shooters in the league and provides enough on-ball skill to keep defenses honest.
Not to mention, he is a 3x NBA Champion, so he is a proven winner.
NEXT: What's Wrong With The Golden State Warriors?
