Klay Thompson is widely regarded as one of the greatest shooters the NBA has ever seen. Unfortunately, it is also often argued that the Dallas Mavericks guard doesn't get his due as a true star-caliber player.
In a recent episode of "The Pat Bev Podcast with Rone", Rone questioned whether Thompson was really a star, implying that he was just a great role player instead. He said:
"I think that Klay Thompson is the ultimate complementary player. Maybe the best role player of all time... I think he needed the ball so little to be successful. He's not ball-dominant... He's the best catch-and-shoot second-option that we've ever seen."
Rone contradicted himself by acknowledging that Thompson was an All-Star. On this note, Patrick Beverley jumped in to defend the four-time champions' status. He argued:
"Role players are guys who don't score a lot, do the dirty work. Klay, he does the dirty work, he guards, he guards the second-best player if it gets a win. Obviously, they're going to try to put Draymond on him. But if it's a wing and a big, Draymond on the big and you put him on the next best wing, right?"
"In my mind, he does the small things when it comes to defending. But like, you scoring 50, you hitting 10 threes, that ain't what role players do. Role players are supposed to come in and give you 8-12 points and take charges... Klay Thompson? Man, he will light your a** up."
Beverley's argument took on a passionate tone as he broke down the dedication Thompson had shown to his craft as a shooter. By acknowledging his efforts in perfecting his shooting action, the former NBA guard supported Thompson's reputation.
In many ways, Rone had a valid point, too. Considering his role as the second scoring option for the Warriors, it could be argued that Thompson was performing his duties. But almost every player has a specific role on the team. What made Thompson a star was his ability to tilt the scales with his prowess on both ends of the floor.
In his prime, the four-time champion was among the most lethal shooters in the league. When paired with Stephen Curry, the Splash Bros wreaked havoc on opposition defenses, with Thompson having an immense impact alongside Curry.
Recency bias certainly has had a role in how Thompson's status is perceived. But given his achievements, it is hard to ignore his legacy.
With five All-Star nods, two All-NBA selections, and an All-Defensive team selection to go with four titles, Thompson's resume is comparable to some of the great players of this era.
Given his recent struggles with the Mavericks, it is evident that the guard's reputation has taken a hit. In this regard, the upcoming season could prove to be an opportunity to prove a lot of naysayers wrong. On an extremely talented Dallas squad, Thompson could see a resurgence in performance.
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