Klay Thompson, known for his three-point shooting, is a four-time NBA champion and five-time NBA All-Star. He played college basketball at Washington State before being drafted by the Golden State Warriors in 2011.
Klay Thompson, also known as Big Smokey, Killa Klay, Game 6 Klay, The Electrician, and Sea Captain, was born on February 8, 1990, in Los Angeles, California.
In 2008, Klay Thompson graduated from Santa Margarita Catholic High School in Rancho Santa Margarita, where he had a successful high school basketball career.
Klay Thompson won a gold medal as a member of the Under-19 United States national team at the 2009 FIBA Under-19 World Championship.
Thompson led the Cougars to the Great Alaska Shootout Championship and was named its Most Outstanding Player after scoring a tournament single game record of 43 points.
Klay Thompson made his NBA debut on December 25, 2011, playing for the Golden State Warriors.
The Warriors traded Ellis to the Milwaukee Bucks on March 13, 2012, which led to Thompson's increased playing time and scoring performance.
On January 29, 2013, Klay Thompson scored 32 points, his season-high, against the Cleveland Cavaliers. This performance showcased his scoring ability during that NBA season.
On May 8, 2013, Klay Thompson achieved a playoff career-high of 34 points against the San Antonio Spurs, along with a career-high 14 rebounds. Despite his impressive performance, the Warriors eventually lost to the Spurs in six games.
Klay Thompson was part of the United States national team that won a gold medal at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
On October 31, 2014, Klay Thompson signed a four-year contract extension with the Golden State Warriors. This solidified his commitment to the team for the upcoming years.
On January 23, 2015, Klay Thompson had a remarkable game scoring a career-high 52 points, including 11 three-pointers, in a victory against the Sacramento Kings. This performance highlighted his scoring prowess.
In Game 2 of the NBA Finals on June 7, 2015, Klay Thompson scored a playoff career-high of 34 points, although the Golden State Warriors faced a defeat against the Cleveland Cavaliers. This game showcased Thompson's ability to perform under pressure.
Klay Thompson scored 27 of his then season-high 43 points in the third quarter of the Warriors' 128–103 win over the Phoenix Suns on December 16, 2015.
On January 8, 2016, Klay Thompson recorded his third consecutive game with 30 or more points, finishing with 36 points in a 128–108 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.
Klay Thompson scored a season-high 45 points on 14-of-20 shooting in a 127–107 win over the Dallas Mavericks on January 27, 2016.
On February 13, 2016, Klay Thompson competed in the All-Star Weekend's Three-Point Contest and won the event after defeating Curry and Devin Booker in the final round.
Klay Thompson scored 40 points against the Dallas Mavericks on March 25, 2016.
In Game 5 of the playoff series against the Houston Rockets on May 11, 2016, Klay Thompson became the first player in NBA history to make at least seven three-pointers in consecutive playoff games.
On December 5, 2016, Klay Thompson scored 60 points in just 29 minutes over three quarters in a game against the Indiana Pacers. This performance made him the first player in NBA history to score 60 points in less than 30 minutes of play.
On April 4, 2017, Klay Thompson scored 41 points in a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, marking his 10th career 40-point game. This performance contributed to the Golden State Warriors' victory.
On October 29, 2017, Thompson scored 29 points in a game against the Detroit Pistons, reaching a milestone of 9,000 career points and becoming the 11th player in franchise history to achieve this.
On December 20, 2017, Thompson scored 27 of his 29 points in the first half and made his first nine field goals in a game against the Memphis Grizzlies, contributing to a 97–84 win.
In a game against the Utah Jazz on December 27, 2017, Thompson hit three 3-pointers, reaching a tie for third place with Dana Barros at 89 consecutive games with a 3-pointer.
On January 17, 2018, Thompson scored 38 points in a game against the Chicago Bulls, contributing to a 119–112 win for the Warriors.
In a game against the Los Angeles Clippers on February 22, 2018, Thompson moved past Joe Barry Carroll's 9,996 points to earn 10th place on the franchise's career scoring list, reaching 10,000 regular season career points.
Following an eight-game absence with a broken right thumb, Thompson returned on March 31, 2018, and scored 25 points in a game against the Sacramento Kings, helping the Warriors to a 112–96 win.
On April 5, 2018, in a game against the Indiana Pacers, Thompson made 4 of 9 3-pointers, moving past Tim Hardaway for 25th place on the league's career 3-pointers list.
In Game 5 against the San Antonio Spurs, Thompson scored 24 points, aiding the Warriors in a 99–91 win and advancing them to the next round of the playoffs.
In Game 2 of the NBA Finals, Thompson played his 100th postseason game, setting a franchise record and contributing to the Warriors' victory over the Cavaliers.
In Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals against the Houston Rockets, Thompson moved past Rick Barry for second place on the Warriors' career postseason scoring list.
On October 29, 2018, against the Chicago Bulls, Klay Thompson made an NBA-record 14 three-pointers in a single game, surpassing Stephen Curry's previous record of 13. Thompson scored 52 points in just 27 minutes of play.
On January 21, 2019, Klay Thompson tied an NBA record by making his first 10 attempts from 3-point range in a game against the Los Angeles Lakers. He finished with 44 points, going 10 of 11 from beyond the arc and 17 of 20 overall from the field.
During Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors, Klay Thompson suffered a torn ACL in his left knee. Despite scoring 30 points before the injury, the Golden State Warriors lost the game and the series.
On July 1, 2019, Klay Thompson agreed to a five-year, $190 million contract with the Golden State Warriors, including a trade kicker. This deal was influenced by his All-NBA Team status.
On July 2, 2019, Klay Thompson underwent successful knee surgery for his torn ACL, causing him to miss the entire 2019–20 NBA season.
On November 19, 2020, it was announced that Klay Thompson would miss the entire 2020–21 NBA season due to an Achilles tendon injury sustained during a pickup game.
On November 20, 2020, Klay Thompson suffered a torn Achilles tendon, adding to his previous injury woes. This devastating blow was a setback for Thompson, the Golden State Warriors, and basketball enthusiasts globally.
On October 22, 2021, Klay Thompson expressed his frustration with NBA's Top 75 list, indicating that he was still upset about the ranking.
On November 26, 2021, Klay Thompson was seen sitting alone inside Chase Center after the Golden State Warriors' victory. The moment was emotional and reflective of his journey.
On November 28, 2021, Klay Thompson was assigned to the Santa Cruz Warriors for rehabilitation alongside James Wiseman, his return to the court was in progress.
Klay Thompson went on Instagram Live on December 3, 2021, to hint at his return date to the court, showcasing his desire to get back to playing basketball.
On January 8, 2022, Klay Thompson announced his return to the NBA after a series of injuries, with his comeback game scheduled against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
On May 26, 2022, Klay Thompson scored 32 points and hit 8 three-pointers in a game against the Dallas Mavericks, securing his fourth NBA Championship with the Golden State Warriors.
On November 20, Klay Thompson scored 41 points with 10 three-pointers in a game against the Houston Rockets, helping his team secure a victory. This performance marked a then season-high for Thompson.
In a rematch of the 2022 NBA Finals on December 10, Klay Thompson scored 34 points in a game against the Boston Celtics, leading his team to a 123–107 victory.
On December 13, Klay Thompson became the 13th player in NBA history to reach 2,000 career 3-pointers made, showcasing his prowess from beyond the arc.
On December 30, Klay Thompson made a crucial 3-pointer and scored 31 points in a game against the Portland Trail Blazers, contributing to his team's 118–112 victory.
On January 2, 2023, Klay Thompson had a standout performance scoring 54 points and grabbing 8 rebounds in a thrilling 143–141 double overtime win against the Atlanta Hawks.
On February 24, Klay Thompson scored 42 points and tied his season-high with 12 three-pointers in a game against the Houston Rockets, becoming the only player in NBA history to achieve this feat multiple times in a season.
In the final game of the 2022–23 season on April 9, Klay Thompson made his 300th three-pointer, joining an elite group of players including Stephen Curry and James Harden who have achieved this milestone in NBA history.
On November 1, Klay Thompson scored 14 points and hit a game-winning jumpshot in a close 102–101 victory over the Sacramento Kings, showcasing his clutch performance.
During a game on November 14 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Klay Thompson was involved in an on-court altercation with Jaden McDaniels, resulting in a team brawl and ejection of multiple players including Thompson and Draymond Green.
On December 19, in a game against the Boston Celtics, Klay Thompson surpassed Vince Carter for eighth place on the all-time career three-pointers list, solidifying his mark in NBA history.
Klay Thompson made his return to the NBA roughly a month after hinting on Instagram Live about his comeback timeline. He returned on January 9, playing against the Cavaliers at home.
On February 15, 2024, Klay Thompson came off the bench for the first time in years and scored 35 points, reaching a season-high while also surpassing 15,000 career points, showcasing his scoring prowess.
During the Warriors-Knicks game, Klay Thompson surpassed Byron Scott to become 149th on the NBA's all-time scoring list. He finished the game with 16 points and five rebounds.
In a game on April 2 against the Dallas Mavericks, Klay Thompson surpassed Kyle Korver for sixth place on the all-time career three-pointers list, highlighting his sharpshooting abilities.
Klay Thompson scored 33 points with 1 rebound, 2 assists, and 1 steal in the match against Dallas Mavericks.
Klay Thompson had a notable game with 28 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists against Utah Jazz.
Klay Thompson scored 31 points with 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals in the game against Los Angeles Lakers.
Klay Thompson contributed 19 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists in the match against New Orleans Pelicans.
Klay Thompson scored 22 points with 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals in the game against Utah Jazz.
In a crucial win-or-go-home play-in game against the Sacramento Kings, Klay Thompson had a tough performance scoring 0 points and missing all of his 10 shots from the field in a 118–94 loss.