Thompson switches to Sixth Man Insider**: Be open to Kerr!
In the Warriors' locker room, Klay Thompson was alone, covering his head with a bath towel and cheering on Curry's victory.
It was Feb. 11, and when Curry hit a last-minute three-pointer, fans at the Chase Center went crazy and the Warriors eventually won 113-112 over the Suns, the first time since December that they improved their win rate to 50 percent.
Thompson made two of his 10 shots and just one of his three in 24 minutes, and the five-time All-Star pickee didn't perform well. After the game, Thompson, with the comfort of his teammates, threw ** into the cupboard.
It's been a difficult season for the 34-year-old. He shot 421%, which was the lowest level in the 2011-12 season. An average of 17 per game2 points, which is also the lowest value since his sophomore season.
Thompson's predicament came to a head on Feb. 15, when Kerr put Thompson on the bench to play against the Jazz. This is the first time he has missed since he played 727 games with the Warriors.
But it was his first time playing as a bench, and Thompson was outstanding in the third quarter. Four of Thompson's seven three-pointers were all on hit in the third quarter, giving the Warriors the lead.
You have two options," Thompson said, "and the Warriors win 129-107, and you can either keep a straight face or you can fight back." ”
Thompson growled at Cole.
On Thompson's changes to the bench, Kerr said: "It's really a search for the best lineup, it's a big attempt. It's not that easy to take. "
Thompson is said not to have initially agreed to the agreement. In an interview with ESPN, Kerr said Thompson was very angry because of the yelling at him and several assistant coaches. Thompson returned to the team afterwards and apologized to the team's staff.
It's a difficult question to answer"Cole said. "This is probably the most difficult step to get out of the top. It's just that 12 years later (starting with Thompson), things are not that simple.
It's not easy to stick to it. But I said to him, 'As long as you can really accept this, you can help your team win the game.'" ’
Kerr said the pre-All-Star meeting helped Thompson understand that, and Thompson agreed.
"I'm not just watching a game," Thompson told the All-Star Game, "and it's a complete reset, a major mental adjustment." It helped me a lot. "
Thompson is spending the weekend in Southern California with his family, siblings and nephews, and of course, he doesn't forget to take part in his favorite swimming.
It's a wonderful experience to be able to stay on the court and play alongside those guys," Thompson recalled about his half-game, "and it's been a season of improvement." ”
Thompson's position on the bench was not easy. In the last game, on November 29, when the Lakers lost to the Kings 123-124, Bryant scored 20 points, but never scored in the fourth quarter.
After the game, Thompson was asked, "Why, you want me to sit on the bench?" ”
According to insiders close to Thompson, the above situation does not indicate that Thompson is dissatisfied with the team, but more because of his own ability.
The man explained:"He believes that he has lived up to everyone's expectations. "He was willing to help. He wants to feel valued.
How strong is Thompson in the Sixth Man?
Thompson showed his threat on three-pointers during the game, which should not be underestimated. In his first five games off the bench, he shot 45 percent from three-point range, compared to just 27 percent in his last nine games.
Cole said. "What a terrible thing it would be if he could be our flamethrower.
Kerr said that Thompson, as a bench player, enjoyed Bojanski's style of "bringing the ball to the court" and praised Curry, Green, Wiggins and Kuminga. Out of 70 five-man squads, the Warriors' new starters are five at +216 points ranked in the league this season.
Although Thompson added four other players, he was still very efficient at just 102. Ranked 17th in the league.
"It's good that we're relying on those young guys right now," Thompson said, adding, "It's hard to keep our elite team at a high level." So you have to trust all of them. "
Thompson sat on the bench, up and down. On Feb. 23, he scored his worst three points of the season against the Lakers. On Feb. 26, against the Nuggets, he scored 23 points in the first half and didn't score a single point in the second half.
However, Thompson appeared off the bench five times, three of which were the team's leading scorers, including a 123-112 sweep of the Wizards in the final game. Thompson also had the bench, and according to Secondspectrum, Thompson made 12 of his 15 shots and just nine three-point attempts under Looney's cover.
With defensive player Paul back after six weeks of injury, Kerr must add another promising Hall of Famer to the Warriors' bench.
It's not easy to mix these things together"Cole said. "Neither I nor the team knew exactly who we should use because we have a lot of players who are just as good. ”
Thompson was willing to accept a short-term contract.
On the final day of the NBA trade, the Warriors defeated the 76ers 127-104, and after the game, Thompson told a group of reporters that he wanted to stay in the NBA because he only played for the NBA.
Thompson, who earned $4,300,000 this season, will be the first free this summer. The Warriors traded Klay to a new contract this summer, but it didn't work out. According to the league, the two sides did not discuss the salary amount, and instead the Warriors offered Klay a salary range.
Thompson 4 years 2With an annual salary of 23 million, it is very likely that there will be a new contract, but everyone thinks that this is unrealistic. According to a league insider, the salary package and roster don't have much of an impact on Thompson, and he is willing to sign a short-term contract with the team.
Kerr signed a new two-year contract with the Warriors that will extend through the remainder of Curry's time with the Warriors. According to the league, the Warriors will offer Thompson Kerr and Curry to contract (note: Curry's contract with Kerr expires in 2025-26).
The Warriors are trying to avoid this expensive summer season. Lacob said he doesn't want the team to pay the luxury tax next season because then their salary would be lower than expected at $170 million. Paul's contract next season will be a completely non-secure one, and if he doesn't, he'll be a free agent with no restrictions, which could save him $30 million.
Thompson's fate, as Kerr said about his contract extension, will depend on how the team handles the extension and how long they want to remain at the heart of a "dynasty".
"One of our missions is nearing the end and the next one is about to begin," he said. We're trying to get the most out of both," Cole told reporters after the contract came into effect.
But, as with his new position on the court, Thompson also said his career in the Hall of Fame will be very different.
It doesn't matter if I'm wearing a warrior suit or whatever, I'm who I am," Thompson said, "and I'm going to be KT (short for Klay Thompson)."