Acknowledging that it’s still remarkably early in the season, we may have found a slight hiccup in the Warriors’ master plan. With the addition of Kevin Durant comes high expectations and changing roles for the surrounding cast. The addition meant the departure of Andrew Bogut and Harrison Barnes and new, lesser roles for some starters and the bench players. It appears the player that is having hardest time adjusting to this new setting is Klay Thompson.
Stephen Curry was the number one guy for the Warriors last year and Klay Thompson was the second option most nights. Klay is regarded as the second best shooting guard in the league behind James Harden, was a star in the Rio Olympics and a man that authored an NBA record 37 points in one quarter. He knows what he is capable of doing and his value to this team.
Six games into the season, a small sample size indeed, Klay is shooting just 38 percent from the field and just under 20 percent from three. He’s getting a lot of open looks because of the offense but for whatever reason is not hitting those shots he made so easily throughout his NBA career. Kevin Durant is getting about 10 more touches than Klay, as he should, but there is no question that Thompson is in a slump.
One of many famous quotes of a busy offseason for the Warriors after the signing of Durant was from Thompson saying “I’m not sacrificing s**t” when asked about having less chances to score and taking a backseat to KD. Nobody will ever say that they are mad that Durant is here. He’s a transcendent player and a Top 5 player in the league, but there has been an adjustment period for Klay no question. There is no doubt Klay’s shot will come around, you don’t forget how to shoot overnight, but in the meantime Thompson is finding out just how hard it is to play second, third or even fourth fiddle on a great, talent-filled team.