Gilbert Arenas was complimenting Memphis Grizzlies’ guard Desmond Bane for the development he’s shown in his game, carrying the Grizzlies offensively in Ja Morant’s absence. However, the praise for Bane became a shot at Warriors’ guard Klay Thompson, with Arenas claiming Klay never developed his game like Bane has.
“Someone like Klay, he never improved to me. You came in as a spot shooter, and even though you have 4 rings, you’re still a spot shooter.”
Gilbert Arenas says Klay Thompson never improved his game
“Someone like Klay, he never improved to me. You came in as a spot shooter, and even though you have 4 rings, you’re still a spot shooter”
(h/t @funakistats / via @GilsArenaShow )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 10, 2023
Klay Thompson had one of the most versatile offensive games in the NBA before his injury and the film would prove it. He was comfortable taking players off the dribble but wouldn’t because his primary skill was being a rhythm shooter. He was also a very good defensive swingman on the Warriors’ wing, so he had versatility to offer.
Klay has focused on three-point shooting because he was ridiculously efficient at it in his prime, but it’s not like we didn’t see flashes of him being a threat from any spot on the court. Desmond Bane doesn’t have Klay’s reputation and is still young, so he was bound to show development and growth, especially being entrusted as the Grizz No. 2 scoring option when Morant is healthy.
We’re watching Klay Thompson decline athletically and it’s hurt his game, but we can’t say that Klay is struggling because all he did his entire career was take spot-up jumpers.
Is Klay Thompson Having A Rough Start Or Is He Washed?
Klay Thompson has come into this season averaging 15.8 points on 40.4% shooting, pretty disappointing given his excellent regular season campaign last year. Klay averaged 21.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists last season and carried the Warriors as the primary offensive option on multiple occasions when Stephen Curry was injured. He struggled in the 2023 playoffs and carried that struggle onto this season.
Thompson has rarely started a season well. The real litmus test for Klay is the month of January, as he’s proven in the past that he usually settles into the NBA season by then. He averaged 27.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists last January. He doesn’t need to replicate those numbers but being a consistent 20-point scorer would change the Warriors.
The franchise is currently 10-12, with the Warriors not having enough firepower to make up for Klay’s poor performances. Even if Klay’s shot wasn’t falling last season, the Warriors had a bucket-getter like Jordan Poole to help the franchise. Both Poole and Klay were sensational for the franchise in times when Curry was out injured. Now, they have Chris Paul as the lead guard off the bench. The Warriors cannot hope to keep up with the super-charged offenses in the NBA with Curry alone.
With the physical decline that Klay has had after his career-threatening injury layoff from 2019 to 2022, it seems he was due to start falling off like this after a solid season-and-a-half since his return. He can’t move like he used to, which means he will need to hope to impact the game with his shot. If not, the Warriors may have to part ways with the franchise legend before it ends the Warriors’ competitive window alongside Curry.
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