For the first time since his rookie season,
Klay Thompson
started Thursday night off the bench for the
Golden State Warriors
.
He seemed strange and may even have seemed disrespectful to a man who already collected four championship rings.
However, far from kicking, the experienced 34-year-old shooting guard, with 12 seasons under his belt, put on his best face and broke it all in the 140-137 victory over the
Utah Jazz
, in a new day of the regular phase of the NBA.
Thompson scored 35 points in 28 minutes on the hardwood and was even more surprising when he revealed that he had been inspired by Argentine
Emanuel Ginobili to get the best possible out of coach
Steve Kerr
's decision
to remove him from the starting team.
"I found out in the morning that I was going to come off the bench.
We had a good talk with Steve and I could do two things: put on a bad face or go out and play and respond on the field," he said.
And he did the same.
In addition to the 35 points, he contributed two assists and six rebounds
.
"I think I did the latter and I did it very well tonight," he said.
Klay Thompson's motivation coming off the bench for the first time since his rookie season 🥰🏀 pic.twitter.com/RsfmViE50p
— NBA Latam (@NBALatam) February 16, 2024
"You have to put your ego aside when you have to come off the bench.
I thought about Manu Ginobili.
He has four rings and a gold medal... And he came off the bench throughout his entire career.
I don't think anyone Say that you don't deserve to be in the Hall of Fame,"
Thompson complimented the man born in BahĂa Blanca who became a legend of the San Antonio Spurs
.
And he closed, to leave no doubt about his admiration for the Argentine:
"He is one of the greats in history and I embraced that idea before the game
."
Ginobili and Thompson faced each other in 2017. Photo: Reuters
Ginobili is historically recognized as
one of the best sixth men
- the substitute with the most minutes on the court - in NBA history.
Despite all his talent,
Gregg Popovich
, the longtime coach of the Texan franchise, understood that it was better for the team if Manu came in as a catalyst from the bench.
And that's how he became a symbol of the Spurs, forming an unforgettable trio with Tim Duncan and Tony Parker.