Kobe Bryant on Klay Thompson: “He has the whole package”
The Golden State Warriors beat the Los Angeles Lakers 120-105 in their preseason match up on Thursday night. While most eyes were on Kobe Bryant, who finished with 15 points, Klay Thompson was the main attraction by scoring 25 points in 25 minutes for Golden State on 9-of-13 shooting and 5-for-6 from three.
Following the game, Bryant himself wasn’t shy about his praise for Thompson’s game, per Diamond Leung of the Oakland Tribune:
After Thompson poured in 25 points in three quarters of a 120-105 preseason win against the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday at Staples Center, Bryant noted that there weren’t many players in the NBA who can shoot, post up, go to his left and go to his right.
“He has the whole package,” Bryant said of Thompson, who grew up in Southern California idolizing the Lakers star.
Those comments from Kobe touched on the completeness of Klay’s offensive game, but it’s also his ability and willingness to compete on the defensive end that makes him a complete player. Thompson impressed with his shooting and his defense while winning a gold medal with Team USA at the FIBA World Championships this summer. Thompson is an elite shooter, but his mechanics as an overall offensive player are also sharp, if I may paraphrase for Kobe.
Golden State and Klay Thompson are reportedly far apart from reaching an extension deal. By Kobe’s standards, Klay seems deserving of a max deal before the deadline in about 20 days.
