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Reading: Stephen A. Smith Says Klay Thompson Is Playing Like Hot Trash
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Home > NBA News & Analysis > Stephen A. Smith Says Klay Thompson Is Playing Like Hot Trash

Stephen A. Smith Says Klay Thompson Is Playing Like Hot Trash

Stephen A. Smith doesn't hold back, calling out Klay Thompson for playing below expectations. Can the sharpshooter rise to the challenge and silence his critics?

Vishwesha Kumar
Nov 29, 2023
5 Min Read
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Credit: Fadeaway World

Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson finds himself under the harsh scrutiny of ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith as the team navigates a rocky start to the season with an 8–10 record, exacerbated by a recent loss to the Sacramento Kings. Thompson, a veteran star known for his sharpshooting prowess, has been a glaring contributor to the Warriors’ struggles, posting career-low percentages of 36.4% from the three-point range and 40.4% overall while averaging 15.3 points.  

“I challenge anybody on the planet that would find a bigger fan of Klay Thompson than me. I have been raving about this dude for years. You’re a top 5 shooter on the planet.”

“But that ain’t what you’ve been looking like. … You’ve been playing like hot trash. That is the bottom line. We expect better from Klay Thompson. We know what kind of a champion he is. And respectfully, that right there what he said before the game last night, is a flat-out cop out.”

“That’s about you not owning up to the fact that you‘re not doing the kind of things we know you can do. We know you’re capable of doing. And you’re just shrugging it off like you don’t give a damn. Maybe you should give a damn.” (0:55)

In a scathing rebuke, Stephen A. Smith took to ESPN’s First Take, expressing his disappointment in Thompson’s dismissive attitude toward his performance. Smith emphasized Thompson’s stature as one of the greatest shooters in NBA history, juxtaposing it with his recent subpar play, labeling it as “playing like hot trash.” 

The seasoned commentator criticized Klay Thompson for not taking ownership of his struggles and labeled his pre-game comments as a “flat-out cop-out,” urging him to acknowledge and rectify his underwhelming performance.

Thompson, averaging a modest 15.3 points per game this season, has faced growing expectations from Warriors fans and the broader NBA community. Smith’s reproach highlights the gap between Thompson’s current output and the high standards set by his reputation as a premier three-point marksman. 


Klay Thompson Has One Last Hurrah In Him 

Despite Klay Thompson’s current struggles, marked by career-low shooting percentages and a scoring output that ranks among his career lows, there’s a sentiment that echoes through the disappointment—a belief that the seasoned Golden State Warriors guard has one last hurrah in him.

Thompson may be grappling with a crisis of confidence, and the fans may be growing impatient, but it’s crucial to remember the indelible mark he has left on the game. As the former best two-way guard in the league for years, he, alongside Stephen Curry, reshaped the landscape of basketball. 

Thompson’s legacy is intertwined with pivotal moments, such as dismantling the formidable duo of Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant in a game-six showdown during the 2016 Western Conference Finals. His clutch performances continued to haunt opponents, notably denying James Harden an NBA title by delivering stellar displays in the 2018 and 2019 NBA playoffs.

Amidst the current ebb in his career, there’s a prevailing sentiment that Klay Thompson, the game-changer, the clutch performer, and the architect of historic victories, has one last chapter to the script. 

The echoes of his past glories, including altering the trajectories of rival teams, suggest that counting out Thompson prematurely might be a mistake. The stage is set for him to summon the spirit of those iconic moments and redefine his narrative, giving fans reason to believe in one last triumphant hurrah.

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TAGGED:Golden State Warriors ArchiveKlay ThompsonStephen A. SmithStephen Curry
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ByVishwesha Kumar
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Vishwesha Kumar is a staff writer for Fadeaway World from Bengaluru, India. Graduating with a Bachelor of Technology from PES University in 2020, Vishwesha leverages his analytical skills to enhance his sports journalism, particularly in basketball. His experience includes writing over 3000 articles across respected publications such as Essentially Sports and Sportskeeda, which have established him as a prolific figure in the sports writing community.Vishwesha’s love for basketball was ignited by watching LeBron James, inspiring him to delve deeply into the nuances of the game. This personal passion translates into his writing, allowing him to connect with readers through relatable narratives and insightful analyses. He holds a unique and controversial opinion that Russell Westbrook is often underrated rather than overrated. Despite Westbrook's flaws, Vishwesha believes that his triple-double achievements and relentless athleticism are often downplayed, making him one of the most unique and electrifying players in NBA history, even if his style of play can sometimes be polarizing. 
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