WARRIORS PRACTICE FACILITY, OAKLAND, CA — Golden State Warriors fans may be smarting from Klay Thompson‘s recent struggles and he may draw the ire of the reactives in #DubNation, but per Friday’s media availability, no one seems to be more upset with Klay Thompson than Klay Thompson.
Fans often have fun with Thompson’s expression-less face, but there are days when you can tell that he’s loose and free, then there are those rare days like Friday when you could tell there was some weight on his shoulders.
“I take it personal, I played bad,” Thompson said after Thursday’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs, in which he scored 13 points on 6-for-18 from the field and a paltry 1-for-7 from beyond the arc, while committing five of the Warriors’ stomach-churning 24 turnovers.
In fact, he would reiterate the disappointment with his own game on more than just one occasion during the interview. You could tell Thursday’s game left a bitter taste in his mouth.
“I made two bad passes and I know (it was) Kawhi (Leonard) strictly one time — I wasn’t sure with the ball when he was guarding me. I gotta ‘chin’ the ball and be ready because he has great hands. So that’s on me and I’m gonna cut them down.”
I’ve interviewed my fair share of Warriors players and no one bleeds blue and gold more than Thompson. Perhaps it’s because his father, Los Angeles Lakers “Showtime” era power forward great Mychal Thompson and current Lakers local TV color commentator, still (with good reason) roots for the Lakers even when Klay is playing them.
Even during Team USA workouts during this past summer of 2013, Klay expressed a desire to turn the fans of China, a nation that adores Kobe Bryant and, therefore, the Lakers, into Golden State Warriors fans:
We got to talking about the preseason trip to China, where the Warriors will play against the Lakers in Beijing on October 15th, then Shanghai on October 18th.
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He proclaimed, “China has a huge basketball following over there. They love their Lakers, but we’re going to go over there and turn some into Warriors fans.”
When asked Friday after practice if he’d been a Lakers supporter growing up as a kid because his father was on the Lakers, Thompson replied, “I used to, but now I’m a diehard Warriors fan.”
And while the casual fan might not be surprised by that answer because, after all, he better be, as he plays for the team, you get the sense that Klay has a desire to remain loyal to the franchise that drafted him. You get the sense that he loves his team and is on a personal mission to help take this franchise to higher heights.
Thompson made good on his promise of reducing turnovers last night against the Lakers. He committed just two.
And while it took until just a few minutes to go in the first half when he scored his first points on a three-pointer, Klay shot better, at least from three-point-land, going 4-for-8 from long range.
How did he intend to break out of this slump?
“Today, I got in here and got a bunch of reps up and tried to get my mind off of it,” Thompson said the day before the Lakers game, “You just got to move forward. There’s still a long season.”
He added:
I’ve learned a lot the last two years. I’ve had my slumps. When you’re playing so well and you feel invincible, it’s humbling when you have a few bad games. For me, it’s about getting here and getting shots up, seeing the ball and seeing the rim. I know i’m gonna break out of it and all I’ve got to do is play hard and stay focused.
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Just keep shooting. Let it fly, don’t let it affect you. That’s life. There’s going to be peaks and valleys. It’s the game of basketball. I know i’m a great shooter and I’m just going to keep working, keep getting my reps up and get a few more up than I usually do, and visualize the ball going through the rim.
Watching game tape has helped him too.
“You learn a ton. You learn about body language, learn about communication, learn about making better decisions,” Thompson said, “Film is huge.”
So don’t worry, #DubNation, if you’re flustered by Klay’s recent play, there’s a bigger Warrior fan who feels more strongly about it than you.
His name is Klay Thompson.
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