Gilbert Arenas lauded Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane for the growth he’s demonstrated on the court while leading the team offensively during Ja Morant’s absence. But Arenas turned the compliments for Bane into a jab at Klay Thompson, the guard for the Warriors, saying that Thompson has never improved his game to the same extent as Bane has.

“I never thought someone like Klay would get better. You started out as a spot shooter, and that role hasn’t changed despite your four rings.

Before his ιnjury, Klay Thompson possessed arguably the NBA’s most diversified оffensive game, and the footage would show it. His main strength was rhythm shooting, but he was content to take guys off the dribble even when he didn’t want to. He was versatile since he could play both forward and defensive swingman for the Warriors.

While it’s true that Klay has honed in on three-point shooting due to his former amazing efficiency, it’s also true that he showed glimpses of being dangerous from anywhere on the field. After being entrusted as the Grizzlies’ No. 2 scoring option when Morant is healthy, Desmond Bane was bound to show development and growth, especially considering his youth and lack of Klay Thompson’s reputation.

We’ve seen Klay Thompson’s athletic decline, which has affected his game, but it wouldn’t be fair to sаy he’s struggling since that was his entire career: taking spot-up jumpers.

Does Klay Thompson Have a Bad Start or Is He Out of the Water?

Considering how great of a regular season campaign Klay Thompson had last year, his 15.8 point, 40.4% shooting average this season is somewhat disheartening. Last season, Klay averaged 21.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. He was the Warriors’ go-to scorer when Curry was out with injuries. This season, he continued his poor play from the 2023 playoffs.

For Thompson, a strong start to the season is unusual. The month of January will truly determine Klay’s performance because, as history shows, he often finds his groove by that point in the NBA season. January of last year he averaged 27.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg, and 2.3 assit. The Warriors would be drastically different if he could consistently score 20 points, but he doesn’t have to repeat those figures.

The franchise is currently 10-12, with the Warriors not having enough firepower to make up for Klay’s poor performances. Last year, the Warriors still had a reliable scorer in Jordan Poole, even though Klay Thompson wasn’t shooting well. Both Poole and Klay were sensational for the franchise in times when Curry was out injured. Coming off the bench, Chris Paul is now their starting point guard. When it comes to the NBA’s turbocharged offenses, Curry is the only weapon the Warriors have.

With the physical decline that Klay has had after his career-threatening ιnjury layoff from 2019 to 2022, it seems he was due to start falling off like this after a solid season-and-a-half since his return. Since he is limited in his mobility, he must rely on his shot to potentially influence the outcome of the game. If that doesn’t happen, the Warriors may have to let the franchise legend go before Curry and the team’s competitive window come to a close.