The Insane Rise (and Fall?) of Klay Thompson

such lead is safe anymore in the NBA even in these playoffs Thomson drills it he's still at five on the shot clock when Kay Thompson steps onto the court and starts hitting a few shots back to back you know something magical is about to happen the man is known for his jaw-dropping performances consistently leaving fans in awe with his ability to light up the scoreboard and set Records who could forget the Nutty broke the NBA record for the most three-pointers in a single game with 14 against the Chicago Bulls or the time he poured in 60 points in just 29 minutes needing only 11 dribbles to do so these are the moments that have paved his legacy in NBA history however recent struggles have led fans to wonder has clay lost his Edge was his prime even better than we remember or are we witnessing the decline of a superstar growing up Klay Thompson was destined for a professional athletic career given his athletic family background his mother just Thompson was a talented track and field athlete and volleyball player his father Michael Thompson was a basketball giant not just in terms of his height but also in his accomplishments Michael was the first overall pick in the 1978 NBA draft and won two NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers with such a background playay had a head start in developing the physical and mental attributes necessary for success in sports clay began to show his athletic skill at Santa Margarita Catholic High School in California in high school clay had a knack for shooting from Deep showing an early glimpse of the talent that would later Define his career by the time he graduated clay was ranked among the top high school basketball players in the country however Clay's Journey from high school to college basketball wasn't as straightforward as one might expect despite receiving scholarship offers from several prestigious schools he chose instead to attend Washington State University a program that wasn't well known in the college basketball World Clay's decision was driven by his desire to develop his game and not just to chase Fame the choice paid off as he quickly made an impact at Washington State impressing everyone when he hit 26 consecutive three-pointers in a practice session before his freshman season even began from the moment he put on the Washington State uniform clay became a critical part of the team as a freshman averaged 12.5 points per game but it was in his sophomore and Junior years that he truly shined by his junior year he was the leading scorer in the pack 10 conference and earned a spot on the all pack 10 first team he set several school records including the single season scoring record with 733 points demonstrating his ability to dominate games on a consistent basis his success in college validated his decision to attend Washington State and caught the attention of NBA Scouts Clay's life changed when the golden Warriors selected him with the 11th overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft despite growing up as a Lakers fan he never let his Allegiance Cloud his determination to succeed in the NBA even if it meant playing for the Warriors a team that at the time was not considered a Powerhouse but the Warriors saw something special in clay believing that his shooting prowess in basketball IQ would be integ to their plans Thompson's rookie season in 2011 to 2012 marked a strong start to his career he immediately proved his team worth by averaging 12.5 points per game and earning a spot on the NBA all rookie first team his shooting accuracy especially from Beyond The Arc was a clear indication of the greatness to come during the 2012 off season clay was determined to become more than just a shooter he focused on improving his defense while the Warriors made key roster moves including the drafting of Harrison Barnes and Draymond Green laying the foundation for a championship contending team Klay continued to elevate his game during the 2012 to 2013 season hitting over 203 pointers with a remarkable 40% success rate this performance combined with Stephen Curry's Sharp Shooting led to the duo being famously dubbed the Splash Brothers one of the deadliest shooting back courts in NBA history the 2013 playoffs were a pivotal moment in Thompson's career facing the experienced San Antonio Spurs clay Rose to the occasion delivering clutch performances that highlighted his ability to excel in high pressure situations in game two of the series he scored 34 points including eight three-pointers showcasing his emerging clutch Gene his combination of shooting prowess and defensive tenacity made him a critical piece of the war Warriors lineup Thompson's development continued into the 2014 season where he became known not just for his shooting but for his ability to defend the League's top scorers he was often tasked with guarding the opposing team's best perimeter player a role that highlighted his Evolution into a true two-way star the 2015 season was a turning point for both clay and the Warriors under new head coach Steve Kerr the Warriors adopted a pace and space playing style that perfectly suited Thompson's skill Cent Clay's legendary performance on January 23 2015 against the Sacramento Kings where he scored 37 points in a single quarter an NBA record remains one of the most explosive scoring displays in the history of the league That season the Warriors won their first NBA Championship in four decades with Clay playing a crucial role on both ends of the floor in the 2016 season play took his game to another level contributing significantly to the Warriors historic 73 and9 regular season record which surpassed the previous Mark set by the Chicago balls his performance in game six of the Western Conference finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder stands out as one of the greatest in playoff history facing elimination Klay scored 41 points and set an NBA playoff record by hitting 11 three-pointers single-handedly willing the Warriors to Victory and keeping their Championship hopes alive this performance solidified his reputation as a clutch shooter and one of the most reliable performers in pressure situations clay continued to shine during the 2017 and 2018 Seasons even as the Warriors assembled what many consider to be one of the most talented rosters in NBA history in a game against the Indiana Pacers in 2017 clay demonstrated his incredible efficiency by scoring 60 points points in just 29 minutes on only 11 dribbles it was an extraordinary feat that showcased his scoring ability without needing to dominate the ball his defensive efforts were also recognized as he earned a spot on the NBA all defense second team further solidifying his status as one of the League's top two-way players tragedy struck during the 2019 NBA Finals when clay Tor his ACL on game six despite the injury Clay's determination was on full display as he attempted to stay in the game even sinking two free throws before being forced to exit Unfortunately The Following season was lost as well when he tore his Achilles tend in keeping him out of action for two seasons his absence was felt by The Warriors who struggled to maintain their Championship form without him Thompson returned to the court in 2022 after 941 days of inactivity and played a key role in helping the Warriors secure another NBA title a testament to his resilience and dedication however after the 2022 title run Clay's performance began to decline injuries had taken a toll on his body limiting his time on the court and affecting his once Elite defensive capabilities Thompson made a partial return during the 2022 to 2023 season contributing to the Warriors playoff push but his game lacked the Brilliance of previous years by the start of the 2023 to 2024 season clay was clearly struggling playing the worst basketball of his career which raised concerns about his future these struggles have sparked discussions about how Clay's best year should be celebrated and how his career should be viewed in light of his recent decline Clay is now a member of the Dallas Mavericks and we're excited to see if he will return to form regardless of how his career plays out in his prime Klay Thompson was more than just a shooter he was one of the greatest two-way players in NBA history a clutch performer and a key contributor to one of the most successful dynasties in the sport what are your thoughts about Klay Thompson let us know in the comments below don't forget to subscribe to the channel thanks for watching