Golden State Warriors: The Next Wave of Superstars
By John Kim
May 12, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson (11) shoots the ball against the San Antonio Spurs during the third quarter in game four of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Spurs 97-87 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
SG: Dion Waiters, Klay Thompson
The Cleveland Cavaliers selected Dion Waiters with the 4th pick in the 2012 Draft. Despite struggling for long stretches of time during the season, Waiters has proven he can be Robin to Irving’s Batman.
In just 28.8 minutes per game, Waiters averaged 14.7 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.0 steals his rookie year. As his minutes increase, Dion will undoubtedly find his groove. His adjusted per-36 minute numbers project that Waiters has the ability to contribute points in the high-teens. With his confidence rising, Waiters will find a way to play alongside Irving and contribute to becoming one of the league’s best backcourts.
Klay Thompson already plays next to a bona-fide superstar and is quickly improving in near all aspects of his game. Thompson is a rare breed; lights-out shooting coupled with great defense, Klay is an exceptional talent at both sides of the court.
Thompson’s numbers took a dip in his sophomore season – unsurprisingly so due to Stephen Curry’s return from injury. Despite the decrease in production, Thompson saw his Win Shares increase from 1.7 to 4.3 in his two seasons. Going into just his third season, Thompson will find his value skyrocket. Already an elite shooter and defender, Klay is quickly becoming one of the league’s most irreplaceable talents.