Golden State Warriors: Is Klay Thompson Ready To Become A Star?
Photo Credit: Nikk La, Flickr.com
The Golden State Warriors have a great up-and-coming team in the midst of a possible playoff run. They’ve done very well under the tutelage of head coach Marc Jackson. A big reason is the second-year swingman Klay Thompson.
Thompson scores 16.3 points in 35 minutes per game. He shoots 41.6 percent from the field and 39.1 percent from the 3-point line. Thompson makes 2.6 3-pointers a game, trailing league leader and teammate Stephen Curry (3.1).
Is Klay Thompson ready to become a star in the NBA? Well, not yet. Thompson has some work to do before achieving stardom.
Thompson is consistent on the court. He usually scores between 15-20 points. He recorded 19 in Wednesday’s loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Thompson’s productivity is rising thanks to more playing time. He’s starting for the Warriors as their shooting guard–not too shabby for the young guard.
However, he has to work on his overall game. Thompson doesn’t distribute the ball much. He only records 2.4 assists and grabs 3.6 rebounds per game. If Thompson can increase those two totals, he can emerge as a legitimate threat.
Thompson should also work on his consistency behind the arc. Despite being close to Curry, he ranks 39th in 3-point percentage. Thompson needs to make more 3-pointers for better results.
Another aspect Thompson needs to work on his defense, which was questioned on a daily basis from fans during his rookie season. That hasn’t changed. He needs to step it up, especially since Marc Jackson has asked him to be a defensive stopper.
Thompson told MercuryNews.com he needs improvement in every area, including his scoring. The story also stated how Thompson is his worst critic. If that’s the case, then there’s still hope for him.
Klay Thompson knows he isn’t the best player today, but he can be. He has that right attitude to make it in the NBA. He isn’t ready to be a star just yet, but down the line, he could be.