Klay Thompson
Klay Alexander Thompson (born February 8, 1990)[1] is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Widely regarded as one of the greatest three-point shooters of all-time,[2][3][4] he is a four-time NBA champion, a five-time NBA All-Star, a two-time All-NBA Third Team honoree, and was once named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. He has also won gold medals with the United States national team on their 2014 World Cup team and 2016 Olympic team.
For the tennis player, see Clay Thompson.No. 11 – Golden State Warriors
February 8, 1990
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
Washington State (2008–2011)
2011: 1st round, 11th overall pick
2011–present
The son of former NBA player Mychal Thompson, Klay played college basketball for three seasons with the Washington State Cougars, where he was a two-time first-team all-conference selection in the Pac-10 (now Pac-12). He was selected in the first round of the 2011 NBA draft by Golden State with the 11th overall pick. In 2014, Thompson and teammate Stephen Curry set a then-NBA record with 484 combined three-pointers in a season (a record they broke the following season with 525 and again in the 2015–16 season with 678),[5] earning the pair the nickname of "the Splash Brothers."[6][7] In 2015, he helped lead the Warriors to their first NBA championship since 1975. The following season, he helped his team win a record 73 wins. The team advanced to the NBA Finals that season, losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Thompson and his team gained revenged from the Cavaliers, winning two more titles in 2017 and 2018. He also helped the Warriors reach their fifth straight Finals in 2019, where he suffered an ACL tear late in the series. After missing over two and a half years of play, he returned in the middle of the 2021–22 season,[8] where he won his fourth title in 2022.
Player profile
Standing at 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m) tall in shoes and weighing 220 pounds (100 kg), Thompson plays exclusively at the shooting guard position and has career averages of 19.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. Thompson is both a prolific and efficient shooter, particularly from range, as well as an elite free-throw shooter. His shooting form has been described as "textbook" and "picture-perfect".[138][139] Though he is capable of handling the ball in the Warriors offense, Thompson is primarily a catch-and-shoot player, taking advantage of back-cuts and screens set by teammates to make space for his exceptionally accurate quick-release shot.[140] Although Thompson is not known for blocking shots or creating steals, he is considered a strong defender thanks to his size at the guard position and ability to defend against both elite guards and wings.[141][142] He is also praised for his stamina.[141] Thompson is also known for his quiet, laid-back personality, rarely showing emotion in or out of games.[143] He is one of the few players in the NBA sponsored by Chinese shoe company Anta, signing a 10-year deal with it in 2016.[144][145] Thompson is regarded as a clutch scorer,[146] particularly in game 6s of playoff series, where his shooting splits rise up significantly compared to his usual playoff statistics, which earned him the nickname "Game 6 Klay".[147][148][149]
Personal life
Thompson's older brother, Mychel, played basketball for Pepperdine University and had a brief stint in the NBA with the Cavaliers, while his younger brother, Trayce, became a Major League Baseball player. Thompson faced controversy when he was suspended for his final regular season game at WSU after being issued a misdemeanor criminal citation for marijuana possession.[153][154][155] After winning the NBA championship in 2015, Thompson and his father became the fourth father-son duo to win an NBA title, joining Matt Guokas Sr. and Jr., Rick and Brent Barry, and Bill and Luke Walton. (They were joined in 2022 by the newest father and son to win the title, Gary Payton and Gary Payton II, the latter of whom was Klay's teammate.[156])
Thompson is known for his offbeat, dry sense of humor.[157][144][158]
He owns an English bulldog named Rocco.[159]
In late October 2017, Thompson participated in local efforts to raise money for relief for the October 2017 Northern California wildfires, donating $1,000 for every point he scored in home games against the Washington Wizards, Toronto Raptors, and Detroit Pistons. With additional sponsor and fan matching Thompson was able to increase that to $5,223 per point, ultimately raising $360,374 by tallying 69 points across the three games.[160][161]
Thompson is an avid chess player and has met with the former chess world champion, Magnus Carlsen.[162][163][164]
Thompson was in a relationship with American actress Laura Harrier from 2018 to early 2020.[165][166][167][168][169]