Klay Thompson, Kobe Bryant & the Shooting Guard Question
Kobe Bryant, the brilliant creator with sublime footwork and an unmatched work ethic, wrestled the mantle of best shooting guard away from an aged Michael Jordan a long time ago. Kobe, the most celebrated shooting guard of his generation, luxuriated in going up against Jordan if only to measure how he was evolving as a NBA talent . The Jordan Rules: win in the playoffs, was food for Kobe. Kobe won 64% of playoff game his first five years, including a championship. In his third year Kobe was All-NBA. In his fourth year he was All-Defensive NBA and All-NBA. In his fifth year, the same.
Aug 16, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; United States guard Klay Thompson (5) during a game against Brazil at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Klay Thompson is set to begin the fourth year of his rookie contract. He missed the playoffs his rookie year. He lost in the second round the following year. Last season, despite the woeful Donald Sterling circus or maybe because of it, he lost in 7 games in a first round matchup.
Klay has never been selected to any All-NBA team or All-Star game. He does not possess Kobe’s motor or domination instinct. Often he fades in games and you forget he is out there. His agent, Bill Duffy, is arguing for Klay to receive a max deal. He said, “I think Klay Thompson right now is the top two-way, two guard in basketball. I think when you look at his body of work, when you look at what he has accomplished guarding point guards on a regular basis last season, I think it’s pretty clear.” It is Duffy’s way of angling for his client to receive the maximum salary based on performance.
Last year Klay Thompson shot 51% from inside the 3 point line. He shot 42% from three which is what you expect from Klay, a lack of cleverness as a scorer. He makes threes with a genius level accuracy. But the rest of it is missing especially a mid-range game and the ability to create shots for himself. Last season Klay made only 37% of shots he took between 3-16 feet. Predictably his ability to draw fouls and get to the line, a characteristic of every great player who has ever dominated the NBA, was the bare minimum. He went to the line an average of twice a game which was less than Jodie Meeks. Klay drew 79 fouls and had 13 and-1 opportunities. That is the identity of a three point shooter who is not a ball creator. Last season most of Klay’s field goal were off of assists, the benefit of playing with Steph Curry. 62% of his two point shots were assisted. 94% of his three point shots were assisted.
ESPN analyst Tim Legler has referred to Kobe Bryant as the best mid-range shooter in NBA history. In 2012-13 Kobe shot 46% between 3-16 feet. It created chaos for his opponent and he went to the line 8 times per game. He drew 226 fouls and had 41 and-1 opportunities. At the age of 34 he averaged more steals than Klay Thompson did last year, Klay’s best season. He averaged more blocks and more assists. In fact Kobe was responsible for 1092 points from his assists. Klay was responsible for 406 points from his assists.
In 2012-13 26% of Kobe Bryant’s two point shots were assisted. 74% were beat you off the dribble creations, the work of an artist and finisher. 62% of his three point shots were assisted. The rest were Kobe sizing up the defense and then shooting. It is the calculus of his greatness, the ability to beat his opponent off the dribble, or catch and shoot or pick and roll or isolation or jab step or fade away. All these years later defending Kobe is still the other team’s number one responsibility.
Dec 16, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) shoots the basket over Atlanta Hawks small forward DeMarre Carroll (5) in the first quarter at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports
Just to be clear, Bill Duffy is not making the argument that Klay is a better scorer than Kobe Bryant or a more talented player than Kobe- no one believes Klay will be a top-10 player of all time. But Klay is asked to guard the opposing point guard every night and to score himself.
Last October Klay faced Chris Paul. Chris Paul had 42 points and went to the line 17 times. Klay Thompson had 10 points and 4 fouls. Their next meeting was more representative. Chris had 26 points, he went to the line 7 times. Klay had 23 points but 4 fouls and he went to the line twice, missing both free throws.
Pick any Western Conference point guard and the story will be similar. They will score but then so will Klay. Klay is an entuhsiastic defender and he has his moments but he is not a heroic defender, not yet. He doesn’t suppress his opponent and he is not physical enough to discourage guards who want to post up. But he does more than James Harden will ever do even as James Harden is not the symbol for defensive masterpieces. That would be Kobe Bryant in his fourth NBA season. Kobe was All-Defensive, first team. He was 21 years old.
Should Klay or any other NBA player receive a max contract if they have never been an All-Star? James Harden did. But he had been to the NBA Finals four months earlier. Subsequently he had drawn a straight line. From his talent as an individual scorer to his sacrifice for team success. The thesis of Harden’s max deal which initially drew eyebrows paid dividends. He became an All-Star as he was the best player on the Rockets, their leader and difference maker.
That is much harder to quantify for Klay because he plays with Steph Curry. And even though Klay takes up a lot of the defensive energy in the backcourt he is helped by Andre Iguodala, a noted on the ball defender and someone who is physically tougher than Klay.
But I get where Bill Duffy is going with Klay is better than an old Kobe Bryant. If you want money you have to prove that you are better than Kobe. Or if not better than equal. Or if not equal than just as good as Kobe was when he was that age. The only problem with using that argument to Jerry West is that he remembers Kobe’s 4th year. Donning the #8 jersey Kobe Bryant averaged 23 points, 5 assists, 6 rebounds. He went to the line 6 times. In game 7 of the Western Conference Finals he led the Lakers in scoring, rebounding, assists, blocks. And he celebrated a title two weeks later. It’s a lot for anyone to try to match, especially a very good but not great Klay Thompson.