The All-NBA teams were announced last week announced with many familiar names and faces on all three teams. One player that was left out that by the voters that shocked many was Golden State Warriors’ shooting guard Klay Thompson. There has been major uproar and debate from every major sports media outlet and even players. When Thompson heard the news, himself he was surprised, to say the least.
“That’s cool and all but when you go to five straight finals it takes more than a couple of All-NBA guys,” Thompson said with a bewildered and puzzled look on his face. “I’d rather win a championship than be third-team All-NBA.
He is widely viewed as one of the best shooters in league history and has formed a prolific shooting tandem with Steph Curry with the likes of which no one has ever seen called the “Splash Brothers”. He’s been an integral part to the Warriors success in recent years as they are set to take part in their fifth NBA Finals in as many years.
The voters, which were comprised of a panel of sports writers and broadcasters from the United States and Canada. Count ESPN’s Steven A. Smith as one of though notable outspoken members of the media against Thompson being snubbed and not making at least the All-NBA third team.
“It’s a disgrace,” said Smith on the set of First Take after the teams were announced. “When you talk about what Klay Thompson brings to the table, it’s not about what guards are better than him or not better than him. It’s about you’re taking the regular season into consideration; I would’ve put Klay Thompson.”
As a result of not being voted to any of the All-NBA teams, Thompson will miss out on the lucrative bonus that comes with being selected to the honor. While the $30 million-dollar incentive will be sorely missed in his bank account, he has an opportunity to be a part of history and add to his legacy since Golden State is the first team in over half a century to make it five straight Finals appearances.
He is often thought of as not second but third fiddle or the forgotten man to Curry and fellow All-Star Kevin Durant on the Warriors totem pole and sometimes even fourth according to those who have a greater appreciation for Draymond Green’s game over his.
The fact that he had trouble getting into a scoring rhythm in the first seven games of the season and struggled to do the thing that he does best which is shooting from the perimeter might have left a lasting impression or bitter taste in the minds of the voters. However, his numbers were still good with an average of 21.5 points per game and a three-point percentage of over 40. His ability to get hot break the spigot and pour on a flurry of points like a bust fire hydrant as well as his underrated skills as a defender are what separates him from many of the guards that received more votes than he did.
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