The All-NBA teams were released and Golden State Warriors five-time All-Star guard Klay Thompson didn’t make it.
A lot of people around the NBA, including the Golden State Warriors, think he was snubbed. While I agree, Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson is one of the best guards in the league, it’s tough for me to agree when people say he got snubbed.
One of the reasons I feel like Klay wasn’t snubbed is if you look at the guards who were picked ahead of him, they’re all the best players on their team.
Steph Curry, James Harden, Kyrie Irving, Dame Lillard, Russell Westbrook, and Kemba Walker are the guards who were selected above Klay. The only player who isn’t the best player on his team is Russell Westbrook, who averaged a triple-double.
You could make a case that Steph isn’t the best player on his team but are we really taking Steph off the list?
Klay Thompson rolling his eyes on not being on All-NBA. He could’ve gotten $30 million more this summer, but he is brushing it off. How is Klay able to let that roll off his back? Klay: “Rings” pic.twitter.com/Wqg57rJLVz
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) May 23, 2019
Another reason I feel like Klay wasn’t snubbed are his numbers.
On top of carrying a heavier load for their teams, all the other guards on the list average more points and assists than Klay.
I understand that numbers aren’t everything but I also understand how challenging it is to be a ball dominant guard, score 20-25 points per game and still find a way to clock about 6 or more assists.
21 points, almost 4 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game are good numbers, but when compared to the guys that did make the All NBA team, they aren’t good enough to crack the list.
Stephen Curry makes the All NBA’s first team while Kevin Durant makes the second team. Here’s the full list: pic.twitter.com/owa6RLDSlO
— Logan Murdock (@loganmmurdock) May 23, 2019
I think the fact that Klay plays on such a good team hurts his chances of making the All NBA team. Going back to my earlier point, the guards that made the All NBA team are the best players on their team.
You can make the argument that gives them more opportunity to put those numbers up and you wouldn’t be wrong. You can also make the argument that because he plays behind Steph Curry and Kevin Durant that its easier for Klay to put up those numbers.
So, if you ask me, Klay Thompson wasn’t snubbed. Is he better than some of the guys on that list? That’s debatable, but he didn’t have a better regular season than any of those guards which is what the All NBA team is based on.
Klay is a great player who’s widely respected around the league as such, but to put him on the list we have to take someone off and I just don’t see a player we can take off of the list this season for Klay.