For the first time since his rookie season in 2012, Klay Thompson came off the bench for the Golden State Warriors. Despite not being involved in the starting lineup, the 10-year veteran shooter put together one of his best performances of the 2023-24 campaign.
After entering the game, Thompson caught fire, scoring a season-high 35 points on 13-of-22 shooting from the field with six rebounds and two assists in 28 minutes. Thompson heated up from beyond the arc, drilling seven 3s.
Behind Thompson’s inspired performance in the second unit, the Warriors held off the Jazz in the final game before the All-Star break, 140-137.
Following Thompson’s 35-point explosion against the Jazz, the NBA community on X chimed in with reactions. Here’s a look at what fans and analysts were saying on X on Thursday evening.
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Warriors escape in insane fashion in Utah: 140-137. They enter the break 8-2 in their last 10. They're firmly in the 10th spot, 2.5 up on a Jazz team they beat twice on the road this week. Klay Thompson the story: 35 points on 22 shots in 28 minutes off the bench.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) February 16, 2024
warriors fans need this all star break just as much as the actual team lmaooo
— Chris Montano (@gswchris) February 16, 2024
Warriors fourth quarter:
20 points on 20 shots
1-8 on threes
1-4 from midrange
4-8 in the paintThey had 42 points in the paint through three quarters. Then abandoned it. Legs were a factor
— Marcus Thompson II (@ThompsonScribe) February 16, 2024
Klay Thompson came off the bench and made a big-time impact tonight 🔥
35 PTS | 6 REB | 7 3PM pic.twitter.com/mILnbVbyP3
— NBA (@NBA) February 16, 2024
Klay Thompson acting washed so he can get benched and play bench players and light they ass up for 35 points😂 pic.twitter.com/wnkQNj0zUu
— A bearded bible study partner (@dnicewazhere) February 16, 2024
Warriors guard Klay Thompson speaks on coming off the bench for the first time since his rookie season: pic.twitter.com/sXADbl09iT
— Sam Gordon (@BySamGordon) February 16, 2024
KLAY THOMPSON AFTER STEVE KERR BENCHED HIM pic.twitter.com/m78NTirTf5
— O🅿️timistic Warriors fan (@30problemz) February 16, 2024
KLAY THOMPSON THROUGH 3 QUARTERS:
35 POINTS
13/18 FGM
7/11 3PM pic.twitter.com/lW1STpJdu9— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) February 16, 2024
KLAY THOMPSON OFF THE BENCH TONIGHT:
35 POINTS
6 REBOUNDS
59% FG
53% 3P pic.twitter.com/Ye93jLkQ5H— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) February 16, 2024
Klay Thompson came off the bench and scored a season-high 35 PTS (7/13 3PT) 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Yiwt59GOSt
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) February 16, 2024
1. Bench Klay
2. Game 6 Klay3.
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) February 16, 2024
Klay refusing to be washed without a fight has been one of the most intriguing storylines of the season and I say that in all seriousness.
— 🐧✨America Is Musty✨🐧 (@DragonflyJonez) February 16, 2024
Klay off the bench pic.twitter.com/yZBR7IvLTg
— Niko (@nikotaughtyou) February 16, 2024
Klay came off the bench tonight
& got HOT from beyond the arc ☔️ pic.twitter.com/3dbf3V5fM2— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) February 16, 2024
Klay after the Warriors brought him off the bench pic.twitter.com/eKREyVM08Y
— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) February 16, 2024
Shoutout to Klay. Coming off the bench permanently might allow him to hoop for the love of the game again, rather than for a contract and personal agendas, or whatever. #DubNation pic.twitter.com/TNkFj9s38P
— #1 CP3 Fan | Dubnation (@Number1Cp3Fan) February 16, 2024
THIS team is at its best when Wiggs and JK are featured attacking the basket. Yeah the 3pt ball was going in tonight but they relied on it too much. Pod, Klay, and Steph got cold and everything went to garbage
— Nai (@_Nai_Roy) February 16, 2024
Klay going nuclear covering up for some absurd lineup choices and CTE level turnovers.
— Sean Jordan (@BaySean) February 16, 2024
Klay's 6th Man of the Year campaign is starting off nicely
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) February 16, 2024
