When the Dubs need Klay, he’s there
In the playoffs? He’s never missed a game (102/102).
Fun fact: with that last stat he is the Warriors’ current all-time leader in playoff games played:
Klay Thompson is appearing in his 600th career regular-season game, becoming the 11th player in Warriors history to reach the 600-game mark. Thompson has appeared in an additional 102 games in the postseason, Golden State's all-time leader in playoff games played.
— Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) March 11, 2019
Simply put, Klay Thompson is the human embodiment of “reliable” and “durable.”
You can nearly count on him 100 percent to be on the court, suiting up for the tip-off. And in those rare moments when he does miss games, chances are that it won’t be for long and when he makes his eventual return, he doesn’t miss a beat.
This Golden State Warriors team is different than years past. When one of the core four or five players is absent, they’ve struggled mightily this season and have had to adapt. You can argue that Klay Thompson’s absence is the one that is felt the strongest.
After all, without Thompson on the court, the Warriors are without one of the best shooters in the league, perhaps their best backcourt defender, and most importantly: who is the reliable backup to Klay?