He’s the man famous for saying he wasn’t going to “sacrifice shit” when Kevin Durant decided to join the Golden State Warriors. And according to his coach, Klay Thompson won’t change shit with Stephen Curry out.
When asked before Thursday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks how Thompson is altering his approach, Kerr couldn’t help but give a sarcastic response about his most understated star.
“Klay’s a totally different person now,” he joked. “He’s changed everything. His demeanor, he’s like constantly barking out orders. He’s got so much more emotional with Steph out. He feels all this pressure.
“Sorry I couldn’t resist.”
It’s a ridiculous premise, because Thompson is known for his low-key attitude. If you were gauging his mood from facial expression alone, you couldn’t be sure if he was happy, sad or hungry.
when you are overcome by emotion after hitting a buzzer beater. #Warriors pic.twitter.com/OIoOKMTjF9
— jacob c. palmer (@jacobc_palmer) April 9, 2017
So, it’s only fitting that Thompson is taking Curry’s absence due to a sprained ankle in stride.
“Klay has never changed anything that’s ever happened in the three-and-a-half years that I’ve known him,” Kerr said. “No matter what happens — whether it’s in his life, in basketball, in the world — nothing changes with Klay. The guy is amazing. He just comes and does his job and goes home. And he does it day after day after day.
“He’s a machine. He really is. In terms of his availability night after night. Guarding the best guy on the other team, running like Reggie Miller or Rip Hamilton. Running off every screen, never gets tired. Lowest maintenance player that I will ever coach. I don’t know what else I can say.”
There’s a time and a place for everything: The time for Klay to change things up is the offseason, and the place is China.
#ChinaKlay pic.twitter.com/btH8jChiUa
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) June 30, 2017
Contact Jacob C. Palmer at jpalmer@sfexaminer.com or on Twitter, @jacobc_palmer.
