Is Klay Thompson Benching Permanent? Warriors Coach Kerr Reveals

Klay Thompson came off the bench tonight and posted a season-high 35 points in 28 minutes of game time! Talk about resurgence. The Warriors took home the victory against a strong-willed Jazz 140-137. And Thompson’s help off the bench cannot be downplayed.

Talking to the press post-game, Steve Kerr revealed his plans with regard to Klay for the future. He was of the opinion that they were going to keep him on the bench for now. “Doesn’t mean it’s permanent…We’ll give it a little look and see how it goes,” he added.

Well, it seems like Kerr loves the Klay Thompson off the bench. His reply to the 4x champion’s score tonight doesn’t show much surprise. And why would it? He has coached the man long enough to know what he is capable of. Hence, Coach Kerr’s answer is somewhat of a balanced compliment.

On several occasions this season, the Warriors bench unit has proved to be crucial for their stability. A major reason was the veteran Chris Paul‘s leadership. And now, Klay gets to be a part of the same. Not to mention, CP3 is still out. So, having an experienced Warrior like Klay Thompson is only going to be beneficial.

Klay Thompson has been hit by the worst season

Although the Warriors as a whole have had an off season, Klay Thompson might have had it the worst. And the 33-year-old hasn’t been shy about his struggles. The key point of his struggles has been that he is too hard on himself. Kerr, and even Klay himself, has said that he has to try to get out of his own head.

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While it’s commendable to be one’s own critic, it comes with pros and cons. The pro being you can almost exclusively shut yourself away from outside noise. And the con, you can pull yourself under by being unnecessarily harsh. Klay’s age, injuries he sustained over the years (ACL and Achilles being the most notable) have also contributed to him being constantly out of it on the court.

Thompson had said that it’s extremely tough to go from being the best player to the worst. Although he hadn’t completed that sentence, there wasn’t really any need for it. When Kerr had closed the game for the first time in 12 years, he hadn’t taken too kindly to it. But following the initial ruffling of feathers, Klay admitted that he had been “playing like cr*p”.

In the most recent soul-baring session with Logan Murdock of The Ringer, the long-time Warrior showed signs of maturity. He had confirmed that he was open to a reduced role if that’s what the team needed from him. Clearly, that was Klay Thompson coming to terms with his reality.

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What do you think of Klay’s change? Will this prove to be a game changer for the Warriors? Can the 4x champion continue his effortless performance of tonight going forward? Share your opinions with us!