Gilbert Arenas doesn’t believe Klay Thompson has ever improved his game. The former NBA star sees the Golden State Warriors sharpshooter as a catch-and-shoot threat and nothing more, claiming that Thompson has failed to add any new dimensions to his overall skillset.
Arenas’ comments came via a recent episode of his “Gil’s Arena” podcast, where he was discussing the growth of Desmond Bane of the Memphis Grizzlies. The former point guard used Thompson as an example of a player who has stuck to a specific skill throughout their career rather than looking to diversify what they bring to the table.
“Klay Thompson, he never improved to me,” Arenas said. “He came in as a spot shooter, and even though you have four championships, you’re still a spot shooter. Versus someone who’s like, ‘Ok, they might need me to do something else, and I might need to have that skill set.'”
Gilbert Arenas says Klay Thompson never improved his game
“Someone like Klay, he never improved to me. You came in as a spot shooter, and even though you have 4 rings, you’re still a spot shooter”
(h/t @funakistats / via @GilsArenaShow )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 10, 2023
Arenas’ comments are wide of the mark. Thompson is more than just a spot-up shooter. Throughout his career, he’s proven he can score around the rim, knock down mid-range jumpers, and consistently create his own space off the dribble. Thompson has also been a high-level defender for the majority of his career.
It’s not that Thompson hasn’t evolved his game. It’s that he hasn’t needed to show those improvements on a consistent basis. You don’t become a core part of a dynasty by not continually improving your craft, even if those improvements are regularly displayed.
Whether Thompson gets an opportunity to prove he’s more than a spot shooter before calling time on his career will remain to be seen.
