Klay Thompson may have just started a new chapter of his career, and it might be a very important one.
After months of struggling, Thompson was recently moved to the bench by head coach Steve Kerr.
That seemed to do the trick, as the Warriors star put up 35 points during his first night in the second unit.
Speaking on The Draymond Green Show, former Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford talked about some advice he gave Thompson before the big change.
According to NBC Sports, Crawford said:
“It can give him a whole different wind. We don’t see legendary players like that, Manu [Ginóbili] we talked about, but legendary, legendary guys like that who have had four-time champions averaging 17, coming off the bench. Now you’re seeing second unit guys, now you’re the focal point of the offense. It gets you in a rhythm. Forget the off the bench or starting, you’re going to have better numbers doing this than you would as you’re doing it right now.
If there's anyone who knows how to succeed in a Sixth Man role, it's Jamal Crawford, who offered his advice to Klay Thompson 🤝https://t.co/q8YtElNxPK
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) February 21, 2024
The guidance was solid and it may have really influenced Thompson as he came off the bench for the first time since his rookie year.
Crawford plainly explained that Thompson can still do a lot of great for his team, whether he’s part of the second unit or not.
17 points can still be a huge help for a team, Crawford said, and Thompson should be proud of that.
He should also try to focus on being himself and having fun, silencing all the noise that surrounds him amidst this major move.
Now that Thompson had a great performance as a bench player, he might get even better in the days ahead.
For the first time in weeks, he looked confident and happy and that says a lot.
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