As the Golden State Warriors navigate through the turmoil-filled season, one of their major concern resides in Klay Thompson. Since the inception of the 2023-24 campaign, Klay has failed to deliver consistently. So far, he has seen a dip in his scoring and a disconnect in his touch. He is averaging nearly 16 points this season in contrast to nearly 22 in the previous one. Moreover, this season, he has been directed to the bench more frequently than at any point in his NBA career.

So, as Gilbert Arenas and Shannon Sharpe discussed Klay’s struggle in their recent podcast, Arenas drew a parallel between Klay and Russel Westbrook’s time with the Los Angeles Lakers. Arenas, being a lights-out shooter himself during his NBA days, said, “Where Russ is and where Klay is, I think Klay is where Russ was last year or two years ago with the Lakers.”

Gilbert’s comments were prompted by the Warriors recent blowout loss to the Boston Celtics. The C’s outscored the Dubs right away, posting a sizeable 44-point lead at the half. Moreover, they won the ball game by 52 points. With that, the narrative of Stephen Curry shouldering the load for the team came in, forcing Arenas to highlight that Klay has lost his spark.

Arenas initially acknowledged Klay’s work ethic to overcome his slump. However, he then argues that Klay now “questions his abilities” and has adopted a changed mindset; one different from that of a winner. With that, Arenas draws from Westbrook’s history of losing his confidence in LA.

Russell Westbrook’s tenure with the Lakers

In 2021, the Lakers acquired Russell Westbrook in hopes of being propelled into contention behind his ability to garner triple-doubles. However, throughout a season and a half, Westbrook’s tenure was marked by disappointing performances, an inability to connect on plays, and a noticeable dip in his confidence.

Westbrook faced challenges right from the onset, resulting in boos by the home crowd for falling short of the lofty expectations. Moreover, his one-of-a-kind athleticism and intensity seemed to wane, sparking narratives of his ultimate decline. With that, the Lakers then strategically deployed Westbrook to the bench. Despite that, he struggles to find his spot on the Lakers’ system, facing a growing disconnect with the team. His history of turnovers and questionable decision-making forced the Lakers to trade him in a 3-team deal.

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Westbrook came to the Lakers averaging 22.2 points, 11.5 rebounds and 11.7 assists. However, his numbers dwindled to 15.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 7.5 assists during his finals days with the team.