Former Golden State Warriors shooting guard Monta Ellis reportedly gave a rookie Klay Thompson grief for shooting the ball too much in the 2011-12 NBA season. In a recent article from The Athletic's Jayson Jenks and Rustin Todd, several of Thompson's former teammates and coaches were asked about their favorite memories of the All-Star, who will soon make his return to the Golden State Warriors following a two-year absence due to injury.
Jerry DeGregorio, a former Warriors assistant coach, recalled an instance in which Ellis and a young Thompson had a one-sided argument about who should be getting more shot attempts.
“His rookie season, there was a game where Klay took too many 3s for Monta Ellis’s liking,” DeGregorio told The Athletic. “During the next timeout, I remember Monta Ellis just ripped into this rookie: ‘You’re taking too many shots. Pass the ball. You’re just a rook.' I remember watching Klay the whole time, and he never flinched.”
Thompson, who attempted 10.9 field goals his rookie season compared to Ellis' 19 with the Warriors (before he was traded to Milwaukee later that season to give Thompson a more prominant role), clearly didn't listen to Ellis' comments.
“The very next offensive possession, ball swings, goes to Klay,” DeGregorio continued. “He takes the first shot and makes a 3.”
Thompson shot 41.4% from 3 his rookie season, and holds the fourteenth-highest 3-point percentage in NBA history for his career. Meanwhile, Ellis has never shot higher than 36.1% from deep. Perhaps Thompson should've been shooting even more.
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