Dallas Mavericks at Orlando Magic, Orlando, Florida, USA Orlando, Florida, USA, March 27, 2025, Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson 31 rushes forward in the first half at the Kia Center. Copyright: xMartyxJean-Louisx - Image Credit: IMAGO / Marty Jean Louis
Dallas Mavericks at Orlando Magic, Orlando, Florida, USA Orlando, Florida, USA, March 27, 2025, Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson 31 rushes forward in the first half at the Kia Center. Copyright: xMartyxJean-Louisx - Image Credit: IMAGO / Marty Jean Louis
Klay Thompson has faced many questions about his game as he enters another stage of his NBA career. However, his father, Mychal Thompson, believes there is an easy way to answer those questions.
Mychal challenged people who doubt Klay’s shooting. He said they should simply stop guarding him and see what happens. Mychal pointed out that defenders still give Klay a lot of attention. This comes despite claims that Klay is no longer the same player.
“If people don’t think Klay can be Klay anymore, leave him open,” Mychal said.
April 7, 2026, Inglewood, California, USA: Klay Thompson 31 of the Dallas Mavericks during warmups before a 2026 NBA, Basketball Herren, USA regular season game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday April 7, 2026 at Intuit Dome Arena in Inglewood, California. JAVIER ROJAS/PI Inglewood USA - ZUMAp124 20260407_zaa_p124_017 Copyright: xJavierxRojasx
April 7, 2026, Inglewood, California, USA: Klay Thompson 31 of the Dallas Mavericks during warmups before a 2026 NBA, Basketball Herren, USA regular season game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday April 7, 2026 at Intuit Dome Arena in Inglewood, California. JAVIER ROJAS/PI Inglewood USA - ZUMAp124 20260407_zaa_p124_017 Copyright: xJavierxRojasx
Mychal made these comments during an appearance on SiriusXM NBA Radio’s The Starting Lineup, via a Heat Central X post, hosted by Frank Isola and Brian Scalabrine.
He then went a step further. He said defenders should test Klay instead of staying close to him.
“Don’t guard him. Don’t face guard him,” Mychal added. “I see people still bear-hugging him and not leaving him open for a second. So if he’s not Klay anymore, leave him open and give him open shots. Let’s see what happens”
Mychal believes the attention Klay still gets from defenders tells a different story. Klay is now preparing for his next opportunity with the Miami Heat. His father still believes in his shooting ability.
Klay Thompson's numbers have declined, but his shooting threat remains
Basketball Network’s Shane Garry Acedera reported that some of the criticism around Klay is understandable. His three-point numbers dropped last season.
Klay made 202 three-pointers last season. That was his lowest total in a full season since his rookie year.
These numbers help explain why more people now question whether Klay is past his prime.
Still, Klay has an excellent NBA career. He formed the famous Splash Brothers duo with Stephen Curry and helped Golden State win four championships between 2015 and 2022.
He also holds the NBA record for the most three-pointers in one game, with 14.
The same Basketball Network article also reported that Klay ranks fourth on the NBA’s all-time three-point list. He is also getting closer to Ray Allen and the 3000-made-threes mark.
These achievements explain why Mychal’s comments stand out. Klay may not be the same player he was in his prime, but calling him washed ignores the shooting threat he can still bring.
Written by
Kapil Manghnani
Kapil Manghnani brings over 4.5 years of experience in sports journalism, covering a wide range of sports, including Soccer, NHL, Tennis, Gymnastics, NASCAR, Swimming, and more. He has written for leading sports platforms, producing everything from breaking news and features to in-depth analysis, opinion pieces, long-form stories, and short-form content. Beyond articles, he has also scripted long-form storytelling videos for YouTube channels. His work focuses on delivering well-researched, engaging, and reader-first sports content across multiple formats.
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