“It does suck losing Klay. There’s no two ways around it. So, you have to be able to celebrate what we accomplished, but then be able to move on.” Stephen Curry’s words following Klay Thompson‘s exit raised an important question: what next? For over 13 years, Thompson had been to Steph what Scottie Pippen had been to Michael Jordan. He assisted the lead scorer on the offensive front and complimented his skills by dropping his own set of three-pointers and field goals. At 36, Curry has limited time to secure his fifth ring, and losing Klay only adds to the challenge. Fortunately, the recent inclusion of two veterans will go a long way in steering the team back on track.

Former NBA player and veteran coach Jerry Stackhouse recently talked about what can be expected from the Warriors going forward. The franchise has been quite busy during the offseason, making some new additions. At the same time, it’s trying not to cross the luxury tax and apron limits by much. As a result, Bay Area fans will now see veterans Buddy Hield and Kyle Anderson don the blue and golden yellow colors during the upcoming season. None of the two veterans possess any major accolades to their name. They have not won a championship title or been named to the All-Star team even once. However, the Warriors assistant coach believes that they are what the franchise needs now.

“Buddy (Heild) and KA (Kyle Anderson) in Memphis, he’s (Anderson) just… he’s just kind of a jack of all trades. A guy that you can plug into a lot different positions and, you know, hopefully Buddy will soften the blow of losing, you know, losing Klay,” said Stackhouse. “I mean, Klay has been a staple here for a long time and being able to provide some shooting. So, man, it’s across the board.” Needing a perspective himself on how to best take the team forward, the new assistant coach further highlighted his wish to better get accustomed to the new, as well as the old players, like Kevon Looney. With just a few weeks remaining until the commencement of the season, time is of the essence.

According to Statmuse, with an average of 3 three-pointers made per game, Hield ranks the fourth highest in the category overall. Thompson, meanwhile, occupies the second rank with just a tiny advantage of 3.1. However, since his rookie season back in 2016, Hield has made over 1924 three-pointers, with only Steph having crossed the record with his 2154 three-pointers. While Thompson only had four seasons in which he made 250+ far-away shots per campaign, Hield has five. His average points per game stat may cast some doubt, but the player has shown that he can adapt Thompson’s role if the situation calls for it.

As for Kyle Anderson, Stackhouse’s comment about the player being a ‘jack of all trades’ does hold some merit. His average points per game aren’t that impressive. However, the way he initiates the offense as a wing while simultaneously offering an elite defensive and rebounding presence is certainly noteworthy. The way he performed a clutch strip on Luka Doncic back in February 2023 continues to be etched on the minds of people. Even rival elites like Nikola Jokic have sung the praise of Anderson, with the Serbian stating back in May, “Kyle Anderson’s a really smart player. He knows what to do on the floor. He had 8 assists, he had 9 rebounds, he was really affecting the game. He’s just a high IQ guy, and he knows what to do on the floor.”

The duo of Hield and Anderson certainly have the respect of the assistant coach. As a bonus, even Steve Kerr can’t help but be optimistic. Furthermore, for anyone worried that it won’t take long for Buddy Hield to become the next ‘Splash Brother’ and leave Thompson’s memories in the dust, the player gave his assurance on the same.

Does Buddy Hield wish to replace Klay Thompson as Steph’s right-hand?

After the Warriors acquired Hield, fans labeled the trade as a replacement for Klay Thompson. After all, according to journalist Shams Charania, Hield had reportedly been the franchise’s focus ever since they lost Thompson. Filling Klay Thompson’s shoes would take a whole level of commitment and prowess. Moreover, fans would also need to warm up to Hield. Fortunately, Hield does not wish to focus on any external goals. He just wants to focus on the game.

When asked if he feels any pressure or expectations in light of the ‘Klay Thompson replacement’ noise, Hield smiled and replied “There’s no pressure. Just come and do my job.” The former Pacers small forward even used the opportunity to send his love to the man in question by adding “What Klay has done for this organization has been tremendous. I love Klay a lot. I’ve watched him a ton over the years and he’s special…So, I don’t look at it as pressure, but I think it’s fun just being in that role and seeing if I can get the same looks he got.”

Do you believe that Buddy Hield can be as effective as Klay Thompson when playing alongside the Warriors? Let us know in the comments down below.

Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.