The first screenshot is from a [Dec. 2022 article by Howard Beck](https://www.si.com/nba/2022/12/23/klay-thompson-warriors-26-faces-locker-motivation ).
The second screenshot is from a [May 2022 article titled ‘Klay Thompson Is Still the NBA’s Ultimate Second Star’ by Andy Bailey](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10037027-klay-thompson-is-still-the-nbas-ultimate-second-star) after we won Game 5 vs the Mavs because of Klay (his words).
The third and fourth screenshots are from [a February 2023 article](https://theathletic.com/4257544/2023/02/27/klay-thompson-warriors-column/) by Marcus Thompson.
by taygads
6 Comments
Why do people want Klay benched?
They are only 15 games into the season, and while he hasn’t had the best of starts to a season there is still time.
No one on the 2nd unit can replicate what Klay brings when’s hot. The only starter level player on the bench is CP3. But it’s not feasible to start 2 PGs on a game by game with an already smaller starting front court.
He’ll be fine, he didn’t forget how to play basketball or how to shoot the basketball so fast after he already overcame those two catastrophic injuries.
Actually found good data on [Twitter](https://x.com/fakelogic/status/1729307004743860632?s=46) , showing it’s not even his worst slump. I hate how every time he plays bad everybody attribute it to his age.
This user has some good insights to show how Klay is not actually as terrible as people might think and that regardless of this slow start he’s still playing better than Moody.
I was actually looking back at the 2019 finals today and had sort of forgotten how much Klay was vital to that entire playoff run & then to score 30 in 3 Qs right before tearing his ACL. The weirdos on this sub must have totally forgotten that. Or they might have forgotten the 2022 championship, or they forgot how Klay carried the team in spring 2023 when Steph was out. Obviously no one can rest on their laurels but the dude is owed the fanbase’s respect and trust.
We’re 15 games in with a record that’s not great but also not looking like a team that’s hopeless – especially given the entire healthy team has barely played yet. And yet they’re calling for Klay’s head and saying he’s got an ego issue. Give us a break with that nonsense. Let the dude play, he’ll bless us with Hall of Fame level performances when they’re needed.
It’s jarring to think back to 2019 when Klay had a near 100% approval rating even among non Warriors fans. Seems like folks despise him now, which is definitely magnifying attention on the slump
I feel like this isn’t even the worst slump of Klay’s career. And have people forgotten that stretch last Spring when Steph was hurt? He was putting up the best numbers of his career. And now we’re supposed to think he’s washed just six months later? He could be, but I think Klay is owed the chance to prove that he’s not.
Klay really isn’t the issue. He was going to fall off some. The issue is Wiggins and Kuminga not stepping up.