Klay Thompson
After missing over two and a half years of play due to injury, Thompson returned in the middle of the 2021–22 season,[8] where he won his fourth title in 2022.[citation needed] As a senior, Thompson averaged 21 points per game and led SMCHS to a 30–5 record and a Division III State Championship appearance.[12] He was named Division III State player of the year, League MVP, first-team Best in the West, and an EA Sports Second Team All American.[30] Warriors coach Mark Jackson said that Thompson and Stephen Curry formed the best shooting duo in NBA history.Thompson and the Warriors entered the 2014 NBA playoffs as the sixth seed in the Western Conference and were matched up with the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round; they lost the series in seven games.[41] On March 8, 2015, Thompson hit three three-pointers against the Los Angeles Clippers to pass head coach Steve Kerr (726) on the NBA's all-time list.On June 7, in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, Thompson scored a playoff career-high 34 points in a 95–93 overtime loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.[51] On February 13, he competed in the All-Star Weekend's Three-Point Contest and won the event after defeating Curry and Devin Booker in the final round.[53] On April 7, Thompson scored 14 points against the San Antonio Spurs, helping the Warriors become the second team in NBA history to win 70 games in a season.[55] The Warriors went on to defeat the Portland Trail Blazers 4–1 in the second round, moving on to the Western Conference Finals where they faced the Oklahoma City Thunder.[65] Thompson struggled with his shooting for extended stretches during the playoffs, but his defense against opposing guards like Damian Lillard, Patty Mills, and Kyrie Irving stood out.[73] Two days later, in a 112–80 victory over the Thunder, Thompson passed Neil Johnston (10,023) for ninth place on the franchise's career scoring list.[78] In Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals against the Houston Rockets, Thompson moved past Barry (1,776) for second place on the Warriors' career postseason scoring list.[79] In Game 6, Thompson knocked down nine three-pointers on his way to 35 points, as the Warriors rallied from an early 17-point deficit to stave off elimination with a 115–86 victory over the Rockets.[87] On January 21, he tied an NBA record by making his first 10 attempts from three-point range on his way to scoring 44 points in a 130–111 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.[95] On July 1, 2019, Thompson agreed to stay with the Warriors on a five-year, $190 million maximum contract with an additional fifteen-percent trade kicker as a result of not making an All-NBA Team, which could have made him eligible for a supermax deal like Curry was in 2017.[100] On November 19, it was announced that Thompson would miss the entire 2020–21 season due to an Achilles tendon injury, which he suffered in a pickup game in Los Angeles.[101][102] On November 28, 2021, Thompson was assigned to the Santa Cruz Warriors, Golden State's NBA G League affiliate, alongside James Wiseman for rehab purposes.[107] On February 12, Thompson scored 16 of his then season-high 33 points in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers in a narrow 117–115 comeback victory.[109] In the final game of the regular-season, Thompson scored a season-high 41 points for the Warriors in a 128–107 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans to clinch the #3-seed in the Western Conference.[111] In Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinals, Thompson posted 30 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks while shooting 8-of-14 from behind the three-point arc in a 110–96 closeout win over the #2-seed Memphis Grizzlies.[114] In Game 5 of the Finals, Thompson joined teammate Stephen Curry and LeBron James as the only players in NBA history to make at least 100 three-pointers on the championship stage.[120] On December 30, Thompson made a key three-pointer with 1:36 left in the game and scored 31 points in an 118–112 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.Thompson joined Stephen Curry and James Harden as the only players in NBA history to make at least 300 three-pointers in a season.[130] Three days later against the Boston Celtics, Thompson surpassed Vince Carter for eighth on the all-time career three-pointers list.[132][133][134] On April 2, in a 104–100 victory over the Dallas Mavericks, Thompson surpassed Kyle Korver for sixth on the all-time career three-pointers list.[140] On December 25, in a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Thompson made his 2,561st career three-pointer, passing Reggie Miller for 5th on the NBA's all-time list.Standing at 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m) tall and weighing 220 pounds (100 kg), Thompson plays exclusively at the shooting guard position and has career averages of 19.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game.[142][143] Though he was capable of handling the ball in the Warriors offense, Thompson is primarily a catch-and-shoot player, taking advantage of back-cuts and screens set by teammates to make space for his exceptionally accurate quick-release shot.Thompson faced controversy when he was suspended for his final regular season game at WSU after being issued a misdemeanor criminal citation for marijuana possession.
Clay ThompsonWarriorsShooting guardsmall forwardSanta Margarita CatholicRancho Santa Margarita, CaliforniaWashington StateNBA draftGolden State WarriorsDallas MavericksNBA championNBA All-StarAll-NBA Third TeamNBA All-Defensive Second TeamNBA Three-Point ContestNBA All-Rookie First TeamAll-Pac-10Basketball ReferencebasketballUnited StatesOlympic Games2016 Rio de JaneiroWorld Cup2014 SpainU-19 World Championship2009 New ZealandNational Basketball AssociationSplash BrothersUnited States national team2014 World Cup team2016 Olympic teamMychal ThompsonMychel ThompsonMajor League BaseballTrayce Thompsoncollege basketballWashington State Cougarsall-conferencePac-122011 NBA draftStephen Currythree-pointersNBA championshipNBA FinalsCleveland Cavaliers2021–22 seasonLos AngelesvolleyballUniversity of PortlandUniversity of San Franciscofirst overall pick1978 NBA draftLake Oswego, OregonLittle LeagueKevin LoveCatholicsLadera Ranch, CaliforniaSanta Margarita Catholic High SchoolRancho Santa MargaritaOrange CountyEA SportsCollege recruitingSanta Margarita Catholic HighRivals247SportsTony BennettWashington State UniversityPac-10 All-Freshman TeamGreat Alaska ShootoutAll-Pac-10 First TeamJohn R. Wooden Award2011 Pac-10 tournamentretiredSteve PuidokasMonta EllisLarry RileyMark JacksonNBA All-Star Weekend Rising Stars ChallengeMilwaukee BucksBoston CelticsNew Orleans HornetsDenver NuggetsSan Antonio SpursLos Angeles ClippersMarcin GortatLos Angeles LakersSacramento KingsNBA-recordDavid ThompsonSteve KerrJared DudleyWashington Wizards2016 NBA All-Star GameThree-Point ContestDevin BookerOklahoma City Thunder2016 NBA FinalsIndiana Pacersscore 60 pointsHall of FamerRick BarryNaismith honoreesWilt ChamberlainJoe Fulks2017 NBA All-Star GameMinnesota TimberwolvesDamian LillardPatty MillsKyrie Irving2017 NBA FinalsDetroit PistonsMemphis GrizzliesUtah JazzDana BarrosChicago BullsJoe Barry CarrollNeil JohnstonTim HardawayPhoenix SunsHouston RocketsNBA-record 14 threes to break Curry's former mark of 13Chandler ParsonsJason RichardsonPortland Trail BlazersNew York KnicksNBA All-Defensive Team