It has been a disappointing first half of the season for Warriors wing Klay Thompson, whose average of 16.7 points per game is well below his career mark. His 42.0% shooting percentage on field goal attempts and 37.7% rate from beyond the three-point line would be career lows.
While Thompson’s slow start has affected his demeanor on and off the court, he said on Tuesday that a recent conversation with head coach Steve Kerr has helped him “relax a lot” and adjust his mindset, according to Anthony Slater of The Athletic.
“Sometimes I forget just how successful and how lucky I’ve been to be part of a championship team, All-Star games, gold medals,” Thompson said. “You want to get back to that level so badly you can kind of get in your own way. Rather than forcing it, we had a conversation about enjoying the last chapter of my career, how lucky I truly am to still be playing this game, doing it at a high level, being a better mentor for these young guys, leading by example, having my energy right every game.
“He helped me realize if I do have negative energy how that affects the team in a poor manner. So we had a great conversation that helped me change my whole mindset and forget about shooting splits or points per game or All-Star games and just to enjoy being in this Warriors uniform and appreciate what we’ve built. Because it’s such a rare opportunity for a professional athlete to be a part of so much success and to pass that torch to the young guys and keep this thing going.”
Here’s more from around the Pacific:
- Clippers center Mason Plumlee was active on Monday for the first time since going down with an MCL sprain on November 6, but he didn’t see any action, as Janis Carr of The Orange County Register writes. “He is available, but we still want to make sure we are doing the right thing and making sure that we’re taking the slow (road) and ease him back in,” head coach Tyronn Lue explained. Fellow reserve center Daniel Theis said he hasn’t been told by the coaching staff how his role will be affected by Plumlee’s return.
- With the Clippers healthier this year than in recent seasons, Norman Powell is averaging just 25.6 minutes per game off the bench, his lowest mark since 2018/19. However, the veteran wing says he’s willing to sacrifice some playing time and accept a reduced role if it’s the right move for the team as a whole, per Andrew Greif of The Los Angeles Times. “This year with the way the team is constructed and the moves that we made, I’ve been taking a step back and not being so upset that my role isn’t going to be where I would like it to be, or where I want it to be or how I view myself, and accepting how the team is built, what the team is looking for and what we have to do to win,” Powell said.
- Bol Bol made just eight appearances and logged only 19 total minutes in his first 32 games with the Suns, but he finally got an extended opportunity in Monday’s win over Portland and took advantage of it, putting up 11 points and nine rebounds in 20 minutes. “I haven’t been able to show it, but I still have all the same confidence,” Bol said before the game, according to Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. “I know what I’m capable of doing when given a chance.” Head coach Frank Vogel told reporters after the victory that the team was “really happy” with Bol’s performance and hinted that his opportunities to play non-garbage-time minutes may be more frequent going forward.
Klay, the worst dollar-value contract of anyone getting minutes. This season he leads the league in sulking….
Don’t worry when he is a free agent at the end of the season reality will hit when those offers are 1 year deals at a low amount.
Warriors will probably sign him to a 3 year 75 million dollar deal anyway
They offered him a 2 year deal at $24 million a year and he turned it down.
Thompson’s mistake. Thompson will be 34 years old in February. Thompson should have just taken the sure money.
thompson will come back and sign it in the off season. My bet is they do not take it off the table.
Hope the Warriors aren’t weak and offer Thompson a contract just for sentimental reasons. The Warrior have paid Thompson well over the years.
Hardly. The Warriors have gotten a ton of value from him, 6 Finals appearances and 4 Rings. He has done his job. It is definitely not sulking. He hasn’t given up. He’s putting to much pressure on himself. Harden has got to be the worst contract in the NBA. How many trades has he forced? Has he won anything?
Harden’s been ballin out since the 5th game after the trade, his team is 4th in the West and they have a winning record.
While true, he’s never won anything in the playoffs.
Hasn’t Dray been worse though…?
A lot of people don’t appreciate how hard it is for someone like Klay to go from everything to nothing. It’s not like your mind weakens (if anything you get smarter). You think you can, you want to, but your body won’t let you. And it’s not like he did something to cause it, just time.
It’s like the elderly who still want to drive even though they can’t see the road.
I don’t root for the guy, but I empathize. Hope you lose gracefully and learn to enjoy life outside the game. You have plenty of money and opportunity. Go find it.
Glad to see Klay have a new and different perspective!
He can be a very important contributor come playoff Time for the Warriors, if he’s calm. GSW needs to add More pieces to the roster, though. A slashing, kick out threat, and a big body to play the 5, at least for matchups. Someone to help Curry, carry the team for the rest of RS AND attack the paint in the playoffs.
If Wiggins comes back to His All-Star form, they have the answer in-house.