Ranking the Golden State Warriors’ Best Drafts of the Past Decade
By John Kim
No. 4: 2011 Draft
May 16, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson (11) warms up before the game against the San Antonio Spurs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
In the 2011 draft, the Warriors drafted Klay Thompson out of Washington State University with the 11th pick. Thompson played in 66 games during his rookie campaign and averaged 12.5 points per game. In his sophomore year, Thompson started in all 82 games for the Warriors and provided 16.6 points.
Klay, one half of the “Super Splash Bros.,” has been a breath of fresh air for a Warriors team that has struggled with injury-proned guards. In recent memory, the most talented Warrior guards have struggled with health – Baron Davis, Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry. Thompson, barring a freak injury, should has secured a spot in the starting lineup for years to come.
In addition to his health, Thompson’s size and length sets him apart from previous Warrior guards. Because of his size, he has been the go-to defender on bigger guards, such as Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade.
Thompson, though known for his ability to shoot the three-ball, is becoming an all-around basketball player who can score and defend. The Warriors lucked out with him dropping all the way to 11 when he could have gone top five.