"Unconscious as shooter" - Steve Kerr openly compares Klay Thompson to his replacement on Warriors
Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr on Saturday shared his thoughts on Buddy Hield, who has been dubbed as Klay Thompson's replacement for his floor-spacing and 3-point shooting abilities. Before getting traded to the Dallas Mavericks, Thompson played as the second option next to Steph Curry, a role he fulfilled competently.
With Thompson now in Dallas, Hield has stepped into the role as the team's best shooter outside of Curry. Before the Warriors' game against the Houston Rockets, Kerr said that Hield shares several similarities with Thompson, to the benefit of Golden State.
"I think it's the off-ball movement," Kerr said. "Buddy is like Klay, great at catching and shooting off screens. Also, they have a very similar demeanor, very much just unconcious as a shooter."
True enough, Buddy Hield has been solid so far for the Warriors in the 2024-25 season. With Steph Curry out due to injury, Hield has stepped up and helped carry Golden State to a 5-1 record with his off-the-bench scoring. Hield is averaging 22.2 points and shooting a career-high 51.7% from beyond the arc.
Buddy had an outstanding game on Saturday as the Warriors overcame the Rockets in overtime. Hield had 27 points, seven rebounds and two assists while drilling six of his 10 attempts from 3-point land. In Golden State's first six games, he has reached the 20-point threshold five times.
Looking at Klay Thompson's first season in Dallas so far
After falling short in the 2024 NBA Finals, the Dallas Mavericks could have another opportunity to head back with a third star on their roster. Earlier this summer, Klay Thompson was traded to the Mavericks and joined Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving to form a "big three."
So far, Thompson has had some solid performances for the Mavericks. His season opener for the team was his best performance yet. Going up against the San Antonio Spurs, Klay had 22 points, seven rebounds and three steals while shooting 60% from beyond the arc.
In his next couple of games, Thompson remained consistent in scoring. Against the Phoenix Suns, the sharpshooter put up 19 points, before scoring 18 against the Utah Jazz.
If Klay Thompson can remain consistent on offense, the Dallas Mavericks might be poised for another deep playoff run. A return to the NBA Finals could be in sight, although it won’t be easy in the highly competitive Western Conference.