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| Photo: Yahoo! |
Klay Thompson has in his quiver one of the quickest, most mechanically-sound jumpers in the NBA. And yet, for presumably the first time in his life, he isn't the best shooter on his team. That is, of course, because he plays alongside the greatest shooter who ever lived. And this has been addressed in NBA columns, podcasts, etc.
Thompson knows he isn't the best player on his team. I think it's vitally important for the 2nd best player to commit himself to being the "Best 2nd Best Player" possible.
Klay was wide-open after Steph's mind-numbing ball-handling display, but Steph hoisted an impossible shot anyway. (For the record: Steph Curry and "forcing" should never be used in the same sentence). The shot went down, and you can see a lowe-key fist-pump from Klay. It wasn't a reaction to what Jeff Van Gundy called "maybe the greatest move he's ever seen," but instead, a "Yes - we just extended our lead to 15 against an in-state rival who talks a lot of shit" fist-pump. I saw him do this on numerous occasions this year.
Maybe it's easy to resign yourself to 2nd banana alongside Curry -- who's such an amiable guy. But that's ignoring the fact that Thompson was the best shooter on every basketball team he played on for the first 21 years of his life AND he'd be the best shooter on nearly every other NBA team.
He's such a good 2nd best player. Clearly defined team roles is something I value greatly.
