3. Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors
The numbers won’t reflect it next season, especially with DeMarcus Cousins joining an already loaded Golden State Warriors roster. With that being said, there’s no question about Klay Thompson‘s status as one of the NBA’s best two-way 2-guards, and his importance to the Dubs’ offense.
As Golden State’s third option, Thompson still averaged 20.0 points and 3.8 rebounds per game on red-hot .488/.440/.837 shooting splits last year. Despite his number of shot attempts decreasing from the field and from downtown, the second Splash Brother was far more efficient than his first year adjusting to Kevin Durant‘s arrival.
Thompson takes on the tougher defensive assignment in the backcourt on a nightly basis, provides easier driving lanes simply because of his gravitational pull, and is a walking supernova ready to go off in a second’s notice. His basic averages don’t compare to some of the other guys in the top 10, but his efficiency, defense and vital importance to perhaps the greatest team of all time shouldn’t be overlooked.