Klay Thompson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Klay Thompson

Thompson with the Warriors in 2016
No. 31 – Dallas Mavericks
Shooting guard / small forward
Personal information
Born	(1990-02-08) February 8, 1990 (age 35) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
High school	Santa Margarita Catholic (Rancho Santa Margarita, California)
Listed height	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight	220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
College	Washington State (2008–2011)
NBA Draft	2011 / Round: 1 / Pick: 11th overall
Selected by the Golden State Warriors
Pro career	2011–present
League	NBA
Career history
2011–2024	Golden State Warriors
2024–present	Dallas Mavericks
Career highlights and awards
4× NBA champion (2015, 2017, 2018, 2022) 5× NBA All-Star (2015–2019) 2× All-NBA Third Team (2015, 2016) NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2019) NBA Three-Point Contest champion (2016) NBA All-Rookie First Team (2012) 2× First-team All-Pac-10 (2010, 2011) No. 1 retired by Washington State Cougars
Medals Men's basketball Representing the  United States Olympic Games Gold 2016 Rio de Janeiro Team World Cup Gold 2014 Spain Team U-19 World Championship Gold 2009 New Zealand Team

Klay Alexander Thompson (born February 8, 1990) is an American professional basketball player. He plays for the Dallas Mavericks in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Before joining the Mavericks, Thompson played 13 seasons with the Golden State Warriors. There, he was part of a famous duo called the "Splash Brothers".

Many people think Thompson is one of the best three-point shooters ever. He has won four NBA championships, been an NBA All-Star five times, and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. Klay has also won gold medals with the U.S. national team at the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics.

Klay's father, Mychal Thompson, was also an NBA player. Klay played college basketball for three years at Washington State University. He was chosen by the Golden State Warriors as the 11th pick in the 2011 NBA draft. In 2014, Klay and his teammate Stephen Curry broke an NBA record for the most combined three-pointers in a season. They were known as the "Splash Brothers" because of their amazing shooting.

In 2015, Thompson helped the Warriors win their first NBA championship since 1975. The next season, the Warriors won a record 73 games. They made it to the NBA Finals but lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Thompson and the Warriors won two more titles in 2017 and 2018. In the 2019 Finals, he got a serious knee injury (torn ACL). After missing over two years, Thompson came back in the 2021–22 season and won his fourth championship in 2022.

Early Life and High School Basketball

Klay Thompson was born in Los Angeles. His mother, Julie, played volleyball in college. His father, Mychal Thompson, was the first player picked in the 1978 NBA draft. When Klay was two, his family moved to Lake Oswego, Oregon. There, he was friends and played Little League with future NBA star Kevin Love.

At age 14, Klay's family moved to Ladera Ranch, California. He went to Santa Margarita Catholic High School. In his junior year, he was named to the All-Area second team. As a senior, Thompson scored 21 points per game. He led his high school team to a 30–5 record and a state championship game. In that game, he set a record by making seven three-pointers. He was named Division III State Player of the Year.

College Career at Washington State

Thompson playing for Washington State in 2011

Thompson started every game as a freshman at Washington State University. He led his team in three-point and free-throw shooting. He averaged 12.5 points per game. He was named to the Pac-10 All-Freshman Team.

In his second year, Thompson led the Cougars to win the Great Alaska Shootout Championship. He scored a record 43 points in one game during the tournament. This was the third-highest score in Washington State history. He became the third-fastest player to reach 1,000 points for the Cougars. He was named to the All-Pac-10 First Team. Thompson finished the season averaging 19.6 points, which was second in the conference.

As a junior, Thompson led the Pac-10 in scoring. He was again named to the All-Pac-10 first team. He set a tournament record with 43 points and eight three-pointers in the 2011 Pac-10 tournament. Thompson set a new school record for points in a single season with 733. He is the third all-time leading scorer for Washington State.

On January 18, 2020, Washington State retired Thompson's No. 1 jersey. He was only the second men's basketball player at the school to receive this honor.

Professional Career in the NBA

Golden State Warriors (2011–2024)

Early Years and "Splash Brothers" (2011–2014)

Thompson was drafted 11th overall by the Golden State Warriors in the 2011 NBA draft. The Warriors believed in his shooting skills. In March 2012, the Warriors traded another player, giving Thompson more playing time. He quickly improved his game. At the end of his first season, Thompson was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

Thompson in 2012

In 2013, Thompson and Stephen Curry became known as the "Splash Brothers." Their coach said they were the best shooting duo in NBA history. They made 483 three-pointers that season, a new NBA record at the time. The Warriors won their first playoff series against the Denver Nuggets. Thompson scored a playoff-high 34 points against the San Antonio Spurs.

In the 2013–14 season, Thompson and Curry broke their own record with 484 combined three-pointers. Thompson averaged 18.4 points per game.

First All-Star Selection and NBA Championship (2014–2015)

Thompson driving against Washington's Marcin Gortat in 2015

In October 2014, Thompson signed a new contract with the Warriors. The next day, he scored a career-high 41 points against the Los Angeles Lakers. On January 23, 2015, Thompson scored a career-high 52 points against the Sacramento Kings. In that game, he set an NBA record by scoring 37 points in just one quarter. He made 13 shots in a row, including nine three-pointers. Soon after, Thompson was chosen as an NBA All-Star for the first time.

Thompson and Curry continued to break records for three-pointers. In 2015, the Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals. This win ended the Warriors' 40-year championship drought.

Record-Breaking Season and Finals Loss (2015–2016)

Thompson defending Jared Dudley from the Washington Wizards in 2016

The Warriors started the 2015–16 season with an NBA record 24 wins in a row. Thompson had many strong scoring games, including a season-high 45 points against the Dallas Mavericks. He was named an All-Star for the second time. In February, he won the NBA All-Star Weekend Three-Point Contest. The Warriors finished the season with a record 73 wins.

In the playoffs, Thompson stepped up when Curry was injured. In Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals, Thompson made 11 three-pointers and scored 41 points. This helped the Warriors come back from a 3–1 deficit against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Warriors made it to the NBA Finals again but lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in seven games.

Second and Third NBA Championships (2016–2018)

On December 5, 2016, Thompson scored an amazing 60 points in just 29 minutes against the Indiana Pacers. This was a career-best for him and a huge scoring night for any Warrior player in over 40 years. He was named an All-Star for the third time. Thompson helped the Warriors reach their third straight NBA Finals. They won their second championship in three years by defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2017 NBA Finals. The Warriors had an incredible 16–1 record in the playoffs, the best in NBA history.

In the 2017–18 season, Thompson continued to be a key player. He reached 9,000 and then 10,000 career points. He helped the Warriors win their third championship in four years, sweeping the Cavaliers in the 2018 NBA Finals.

ACL Injury in Finals (2018–2019)

On October 29, 2018, Thompson set a new NBA record by making 14 three-pointers in a single game against the Chicago Bulls. He scored 52 points in just 27 minutes. He also became one of only two players in NBA history (with Stephen Curry) to have seven straight seasons with 200 three-pointers. Thompson was named to the NBA All-Defensive Team for the first time.

In the 2019 NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors, Thompson got a serious injury. He tore his ACL (a knee ligament) in Game 6. The Warriors lost the game and the series. This injury meant he would miss a lot of playing time.

Dealing with Injuries and Comeback (2019–2022)

Thompson missed the entire 2019–20 NBA season due to his torn ACL. In November 2020, he suffered another major injury, an Achilles tendon rupture, which meant he would also miss the entire 2020–21 Golden State Warriors season.

After over two and a half years, Thompson finally returned to play on January 9, 2022. He scored 17 points in his first game back. He gradually got back into form, scoring a season-high 41 points in the final regular-season game.

Fourth NBA Championship (2022–2024)

Thompson at the White House after winning his fourth NBA championship

In the 2022 NBA playoffs, Thompson continued to make history. He passed Ray Allen for third all-time in playoff three-pointers. He scored 30 points in a key playoff game against the Memphis Grizzlies. In the Western Conference Finals, he scored 32 points with eight three-pointers to help the Warriors reach the NBA Finals.

In the 2022 NBA Finals, Thompson passed LeBron James for second all-time in Finals three-pointers. The Warriors won the series in six games, giving Thompson his fourth NBA Championship.

In the 2022–23 season, Thompson had several huge scoring nights. He scored 41 points with 10 three-pointers against the Houston Rockets. On January 2, 2023, he scored a season-high 54 points in a double-overtime win. He also had two games with 12 three-pointers, becoming the only player in NBA history to do that multiple times in a season. He joined Stephen Curry and James Harden as the only players to make at least 300 three-pointers in a season.

In the 2023–24 season, Thompson continued to climb the all-time three-pointers list. He passed many legends like Jamal Crawford, Jason Terry, Vince Carter, and Kyle Korver. In February 2024, he came off the bench for the first time in over a decade and scored 35 points, reaching 15,000 career points.

Dallas Mavericks (2024–present)

After 13 years with the Warriors, Thompson was traded to the Dallas Mavericks on July 6, 2024. This trade involved six different teams, which was a first for the NBA.

On October 24, Thompson made his Mavericks debut, scoring 22 points with six three-pointers. This set a new Mavericks record for most three-pointers in a debut game. On December 25, he passed Reggie Miller for 5th on the NBA's all-time three-point list.

National Team Career

Thompson with the 2016 U.S. Olympic team

Klay Thompson has played for the U.S. national team. He won gold medals at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics. He also won gold with the Under-19 national team in 2009.

Player Profile

Thompson is 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighs 220 pounds. He mainly plays as a shooting guard. He is known for his excellent shooting, especially from long range. His shooting style is often called "textbook" or "picture-perfect." While he can handle the ball, he is best at catching and shooting, using screens to get open.

Thompson is also a strong defender. He can guard both quick guards and bigger players. He is praised for his stamina, meaning he can play well for a long time.

Thompson is known for his calm and quiet personality. He rarely shows strong emotions during games. He has a long-term shoe deal with the Chinese company Anta. Fans sometimes call him "Game 6 Klay" because he often plays exceptionally well in Game 6 of playoff series.

Career Statistics

NBA

Regular Season

Play-in

Playoffs

College

Awards and Achievements

• 4× NBA champion: 2015, 2017, 2018, 2022
• 5× NBA All-Star: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
• 2× All-NBA Third Team: 2015, 2016
• NBA All-Defensive Second Team: 2018
• NBA Three-Point Contest champion: 2016
• NBA All-Rookie First Team: 2012
• NBA three-point field goals leader: 2023
• NBA free-throw percentage leader: 2024
• NBA record for most points scored in a quarter (37)
• NBA record for most three-pointers made in a game (14)
• NBA record for most three-pointers made in a single postseason (98, tied with Stephen Curry)

Personal Life

Klay Thompson's older brother, Mychel Thompson, also played basketball. His younger brother, Trayce Thompson, is a Major League Baseball player. Klay and his father became the fourth father-son duo to win an NBA title.

Thompson is known for his quiet and funny personality. He owns an English bulldog named Rocco.

In 2017, Thompson helped raise money for victims of the Northern California wildfires. He donated money for every point he scored in certain home games. He ended up raising over $360,000.

Thompson enjoys playing chess and has even met former chess world champion, Magnus Carlsen.

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Klay Thompson para niños

• List of NBA career 3-point scoring leaders
• List of NBA career 3-point field goal percentage leaders
• List of NBA career free throw percentage leaders
• List of NBA career playoff 3-point scoring leaders
• List of NBA single-game scoring leaders
• List of NBA annual three-point field goals leaders
• List of NBA annual free throw percentage leaders
• List of second-generation NBA players