Over the past 11 years, Klay Thompson has always started games for the Warriors.
That changed in the team's last game before the All-Star break. Thompson had a season-high 35 points as the first player off the bench in a 140-137 win against the Jazz. The benching, in favor of promising rookie Brandin Podziemski, will continue at least for a little while.
"It doesn't mean it's permanent," Kerr said postgame. "Klay coming off the bench gives us a lot of firepower. We'll give it a little look and see how it goes from there."
Why is Klay Thompson coming off the bench?
Thompson has not played up to his high standards this year. His shot selection has been poor, his shooting numbers and scoring are down, and his defense has fallen off to where he's only able to guard slower forwards now.
The Warriors have also been dynamite with Podziemski playing in Thompson's place, outscoring teams by a massive 26.5 points per 100 possessions. Kerr explained after beating the Jazz that it had been "by far our best lineup."
"BP connects the game. He rebounds, he does some things that really help the other guys," Kerr said.
Putting aside Podziemski's better fit, there were signs that a change in role for Thompson was coming. He had been pulled out of the closing lineup earlier in the month.
In a viral clip, he told The Athletic's Anthony Slater how difficult the change was for him mentally.
Klay Thompson said it’s hard to not close: “Yeah, you kidding me? To go from one of the best players…It’s hard for anybody.”
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) February 6, 2024
Klay credited the young guys.
Draymond from off camera (to reporters): “I didn’t close Game 5 of the Finals. Who the f*** cares?” pic.twitter.com/CzYNX4vulw
The pain in Thompson's face was evident while making those comments.
Things got worse a few weeks later when Thompson made a crucial mistake in a game against the Clippers, intentionally fouling Russell Westbrook with 39 seconds left while down 126-123. Kerr was visibly agitated after the play, and Thompson ignored Steph Curry's efforts to console him with a high five.
The move to the bench came in the Warriors' next game, with no argument from Thompson.
"I deserved it, really," Thompson told reporters. "I didn't respond to not playing at the end of the game well last night."
The good news for both the Warriors and Thompson is that it looks like his career might be revitalized in a role on the bench. He was fantastic in his debut there.
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Klay Thompson can use Manu Ginobili as an example of how to thrive as a sixth man
Thompson has found it harder and harder to get shots within the flow of the offense while playing next to better scoring options. But when he had plays run specifically for him while coming off the bench, he thrived.
Thompson is still a great movement shooter. The Warriors used him in that role as a focal point to his season-high in points. It's not like he was being guarded by a bum either — Kris Dunn, who will get All-Defensive votes at the end of the season, had his hands full trying to slow down the red-hot Thompson. Props to the veteran for using Jazz center Walker Kessler as another screener on this route.
Thompson is always going to be a great shooter, and his technique on these plays remains second to none. For this to work though, he has to buy into the role. It seems like he's giving a good faith effort to do just that.
"This morning, Steve and I had a good talk about it, and you can do two things. You can pout, or you can go out there and respond. I thought I did the latter very well tonight."
Thompson is using one of the best sixth men in history as the inspiration for his newfound buy-in.
"I thought about Manu Ginobili. That guy has four rings and a gold medal. Came off the bench his whole career, and I don't think anyone looks down on his Hall of Fame candidacy. He's one of the greats. I embraced it before tip."
Ginobili was certainly talented enough to start games. But he made the Spurs' bench unstoppable, and he was also able to exert all of his frenetic energy by keeping his minutes down to a career average of 25.4 per game.
Thompson could benefit from that role too. He gave the Warriors 28 great minutes against the Jazz, lower than his 30.6 average for the season and 32.8 average for his career. It's not a coincidence that he played much better, particularly at the close of the game.
At age 34, Thompson's body isn't the same as it once was. His fourth quarter averages have been ugly — he's hitting just 40.5 percent of his field goals and 30.5 percent of his 3's. He looks gassed, both mentally and physically.
A bench role can help keep Thompson fresh and prolong his career. He can still be a big contributor, and he knows exactly how to do it. He needs to embrace his inner Ginobili, making a difficult and selfless sacrifice for the good of the team. As he told reporters before the All-Star break, "Just got to let the ego go."
