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Road to the Championship: Klay Thompson’s Lives Up to Contract

By Sumeet Paul

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Throughout the offseason, Blue Man Hoop will be taking a look back at the magical Warriors’ championship run, revisiting key moments of the season. 

After a championship-winning year for the Golden State Warriors, Klay Thompson certainly played a key role in the team’s success throughout the season.

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While another sensational night from the Warriors shooting guard wasn’t far away against the Sacramento Kings, this was a turning point for the 25-year-old in an important year for him. Having just inked a four-year maximum extension worth around $70 million with the franchise, there was some apprehension from many in the league that Thompson was simply not worth the money.

In fact, there were a few within the Warriors’ fanbase that thought the Warriors should have traded Thompson for Kevin Love, as much of the offseason rumours suggested.

Eager to repay the organization’s faith in his ability, Thompson scored a career-high 41 points against the Los Angeles Lakers in a 127-104 win at the Oracle.

Much was made at the time about Thompson’s potential to replace Kobe Bryant as the leading shooting guard in the league given the nature of their battle, and it was also seen as a key turning point for the team. Both Thompson and Stephen Curry scored more than 30 points in the same game for just the second time, and it was an early sign that the Warriors meant business.

Coach Steve Kerr went on to lead the team to a championship, and Thompson played a pivotal role in helping him deliver it to the Bay Area with some consistently impressive performances. However, had he not had a night like this so early on, would he have been able to build the momentum to go on and inspire himself and his teammates to countless wins?

It was a crucial time for Thompson to prove that he could handle the pressure that came with the big-money deal, and he immediately proved that he wasn’t fazed by the challenge and would respond in a positive way.

Looking back at the performance itself, it was an impressive combination of sharp-shooting from beyond the arc that has become synonymous with the Warriors coupled with an ability to attack the basket with strength and composure.

Naturally, the and-one play in which Thompson took it to the basket and was fouled by Bryant received the most coverage, but it was a break-out game for Thompson in the bigger picture and arguably played a key role in getting the Warriors to the Larry O’Brien trophy.

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