Irrespective of how he finishes his career, Klay Thompson will always be one of the most underrated players in the NBA. Much like Scottie Pippen, who played under the shadow of Michael Jordan through most of his successful years, the Warriors two-guard has been under Stephen Curry’s.
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There would be no dynasty in Golden State if the Warriors hadn’t drafted Klay in 2011 as the 11th overall pick or if they traded him for Kevin Love in 2014. The one-half of Splash Brothers is as important to Steph’s legacy as Scottie was to Michael’s. Maybe more.
As the Dubs seek to double this season, to make it their 5th championship in 8-years, there are comparisons floating around for the Splash Bros with the duo who won 6 in eight back in the 90s.
Dan Patrick chooses whose career he’d have between Klay Thompson and Scottie Pippen
There have always been comparisons between the 96′ Bulls of the late 18′ Warriors team since the latter won that Championship. After last year’s Finals MVP, Curry has entered the All-time Top-5 talks, still at a distance from the GOAT talk.
Klay Thompson, though, being the second-best player of the Dubs army has not got the comparison with any of the Bulls of that time. His 2-way brilliance can put him in conversation with Pippen who was the second in command to Jordan in winning all his championships.
On The Dan Patrick Show‘s recent episode, Dan’s team made him choose one between “the careers of Klay Thompson and Scottie Pippen”, and the veteran Sportscaster, after giving it a deep thought went with Klay Thompson over the 8x All-Defensive First Team member, giving multiple reasons for it.
Watch the whole exchange in the following embed.
The major reason for which he gave the edge to Klay over Scottie was the Warriors guard excels at shooting and is probably the second-greatest shooter of all time. The Bulls legend, on the other hand, was terrific at almost everything as a player but wasn’t perfect in one aspect.
Is Dan right?
If he said Scottie isn’t the second-best defender of all time, that’s why he went with Klay, his pick would have made sense. But the man said Pippen wasn’t perfect at one craft.
Scottie was a perfect defender. That is why he was always in charge of guarding the opposing team’s best player. Be it the greatest point guards like Isiah Thomas, forwards such as Larry Bird or James Worthy, or big men Patrick Ewing or Hakeem Olajuwon, nobody liked getting guarded by that 6ft 8′ forward locomotive.
However, his tremendous playmaking and scoring also separated him from most other NBA players. That is one reason why he never won the DPOY. He should have the most All-Defensive First-Team selections in the game, but Jordan has them both. Playing second fiddle to MJ was the other reason.
So, Pippen’s career truly got overshadowed by Jordan, whereas Steph’s greatness only allowed Klay to be even better and make it to the race for greatest shooters of all time.
