In their final game before the all-star break, the Warriors took on the Utah Jazz on the road. Head coach Stever Kerr decided to make a change to the starting lineup, with Klay Thompson coming off the bench for the first time since his rookie season. Despite this adjustment, the 34-year-old embraced the role and made a significant contribution to the team. Thompson drew inspiration from Spurs legend Manu Ginobili, who spent most of his career coming off the bench and is widely regarded as one of the greats. This mindset allowed Thompson to excel in his new role and make a substantial impact.
Thompson’s performance off the bench against the Jazz on Thursday night was remarkable. The five-time all-star scored 35 points, including seven three-pointers out of 13 attempts. This marked only his third game with 30 or more points in the 2023-24 season. The Warriors secured a 140-137 victory, bringing their record to 27-26 heading into the all-star break. Following his impressive display, Thompson shared with the media the factors that helped him maintain the right mindset.
Drawing inspiration from Manu Ginobili, who spent the majority of his career coming off the bench, played a crucial role in Thompson’s ability to embrace his new role. Ginobili, who had 1,057 career games and 349 starts, won four titles with the Spurs and even earned an Olympic gold medal. Thompson recognized Ginobili as one of the greatest players, and this perspective allowed him to approach coming off the bench for the first time in 12 seasons with a positive attitude.
Thompson also realized that despite his new role, he would still be able to play his usual average minutes per game. Demonstrating professionalism, the veteran shooting guard did not create any disruptions within the team. Whether this lineup change will be permanent for the Warriors or if Thompson will have the opportunity to be a starter again remains uncertain and will only become clear after the all-star break.
According to the Source sportslens.com