Klay Thompson was once a sharpshooter in the making, coming into the NBA as an elite sniper developing on the job. Yet the process of adding defense to his toolset was one that came along organically, as the Golden State Warriors shooting guard first discovered his capabilities after drawing a defensive assignment in a smaller, faster, craftier Tony Parker.
Thompson became the primary defender on Parker in the conference semifinals in his second season, as the Warriors beat out his now-teammate Andre Iguodala and the Denver Nuggets in the first round.
Former coach Mark Jackson wanted a bigger guard to challenge Parker and his shot-making ability, and though the Warriors lost the series (4-2), Thompson got the first taste of his potential.
“I think that’s when I figured out I could be a two-way force in this league,” said Thompson, according to Scott Cacciola of The New York Times.
Jackson also needed to take some of the strain from his star, Stephen Curry, and Thompson knew that as well.
“He was our anchor and such an offensive force,” Thompson said. “I was like, ‘I need to help this man out so he doesn’t have to chase these guys around.’”
Curry was coming off a series of chronic ankle injuries, which made it even riskier to have him chase around one of the niftier point guards in the game during the entire game.
Parker shot 41.7% throughout that series, one that ultimately gave Thompson the confidence to take pride on his defense and evolve in this new facet of his game.
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