Subscribe
Follow Us
Klay Thompson has slowly carved his way as a notable defender in the NBA. Ask any player who has watched him or played against him, and most would vouch for his toughness and ability to take on all comers at the defensive end.
But the game has changed for Thompson, as most have adapted the Golden State Warriors' tactics and spread out further, forcing any defender to cover more ground:
“The game has become so spread out,” said Thompson, according to Scott Cacciola of The New York Times. “You’re out there on an island against these guys.”
Thompson is well aware that being a defender is often an unsung job, one that rewards players in merit more than accolades:
“There are really no nights off as a defender,” Thompson said in a recent interview, “especially in the playoffs.”
Yet one of the stalwarts of the two-time defending champions has gone his entire career without a lone defensive award, despite constant praise from opposing coaches, analysts and opponents.
Thompson often expects to make one of the All-Defensive teams early in the season as a goal, but as the season narrows down, his vision gets clearer as he puts only gold in mind:
“At this point, I’ve been to the mountaintop,” Thompson said. “I’ve felt the Larry O’Brien Trophy, and that’s all I care about at this point: winning.”
If Thompson's defense helps him win, this would be the fourth Larry he holds in the last five years, which is more than most All-Defensive team members can say of themselves.
