Bay Area Sports: Ranking the Top 30 Players
November 17, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) celebrates after making a three-point basket during the second quarter against the Toronto Raptors at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
#12 – Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors
Though he plays second fiddle on a stacked Warriors’ roster, Klay Thompson is an excellent player in his own right. The 11th overall pick in 2011 (who also wear number 11, for those who love consistency) has become a great second-scoring option for the Dubs. His scoring average has improved over each of his first four years in the NBA, and he was named an All-Star for the first time last season.
Thompson comes from an athletic family, so his pedigree shouldn’t be surprising to anyone. His father, Mychal Thompson, played 12 seasons in the NBA, scored over 20 points per game once, and was part of two championship teams with the “Showtime” Los Angeles Lakers. His younger brother, Trayce Thompson, made his debut in Major League Baseball last season with the Chicago White Sox. His older brother, Mychel Thompson, played briefly in the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2012.
The middle son may be working on the most impressive resumé in the family. Last season, he scored 21.7 points per game, surpassing his father’s best career number. Against the Kings last year, Thompson set an NBA record by scoring 37 points in a quarter, tied the record with 13 field goals in a quarter (matching David Thompson‘s record, who is of no relation to the family, because there’s no “y” in his first name), and set the record for most threes in a quarter with nine.
Along with his backcourt mate Curry, Thompson forms half of the best guard duo in basketball. The two have already set the record for most three-pointers made by teammates in a season, and are one and two on the franchise’s list for threes. Thompson is signed for three more seasons after this one, and it should be a lot of fun to watch.
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