Published 11/25/2022, 10:14 PM EST
The Golden State Warriors are still in 11th place on the Western Conference table. With a 9-10 record for the season so far, the Warriors haven’t really lived up to the expectations this season. At least this is not the start that was expected from the defending NBA champions. And some of the blame fell on Klay Thompson. But after his monstrous performance recently, NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal felt otherwise.
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Thompson has dealt with nagging injuries these past few seasons. He missed out on 941 days of basketball while he was sidelined. And people thought he would never be able to return to his original form.
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Shaquille O’Neal has a different take
Well, Thompson did as he had a breakout game against the Houston Rockets. Thompson went off for 41 points, making 10 three-pointers in the game. And NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal felt as if they owe Thompson an apology after criticizing him over his game.
Nov 20, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) shoots the ball as Houston Rockets guard Eric Gordon (10) defends during the fourth quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Shaq said, “We definitely owe him an apology.” While Shaq may feel that way, fans on the other hand seemingly did not. One fan tweeted, “No one owes him shit he dropped 40 on the worst team in the league it’s not special at all.”
Another fan commented, “He dropped 41 On The Worst team In The NBA he gon Have to drop 40 on the suns for an apology fr.”
Here are some more reactions from NBA Twitter:
Many fans are speculating that Klay Thompson had a fluke game or they are pointing out that he put up those numbers against one of the worst teams in the league right now. As much truth as it holds, it was an amazing performance nonetheless.
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Klay Thompson gradually improving for the Warriors
The four-time NBA champion was away from the game for an extended period of time. And it would likely take anyone some time to get back into their groove. Many players unfortunately are not able to return to their original form after injury.
So, for the five-time All-Star to show hints of his old self, is surely a relief for Golden State Warriors fans. Klay is gradually increasing his points production as the season unfolds. From averaging 12.3 PPG for the month of October, Thompson has upped his scoring to 20.7 PPG for the month of November.
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And those numbers will arguably only keep increasing as the season goes on. Also, it may be safe to say that the Golden State Warriors will eventually kick into high gear and go on a winning streak to improve their season record.
Do you think Klay Thompson can help the Warriors reach the playoffs this year? Let us know in the comments below.