It was November 18, 2022.

In a hard-fought 111-101 win over the New York Knicks, Klay Thompson chalked up 20 points on 8-of-16 shooting. This would be just the first time he had shot ≥50% from the floor in the 2022-2023 season.

Following a disheartening loss to conference rivals in Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns two nights prior, Draymond Green had called a team meeting to address some festering elephants in the room. And, as rumor has it, Klay’s selfish play was the main topic of discussion. Draymond is the only human outside of fellow Splash Brother Stephen Curry that could look Klay in the face and tell him he’s playing like a selfish asshole. Something clicked. Draymond’s harsh, but needed words sparked an efficient night from Klay that saw him being intentional in his shot selection, while allowing the game to come to him — two areas that had been absent in all of his prior games this season.

Fortunately, this was the beginning of something truly special. After a slow build of solid and selfless performances over the next five weeks, Klay showed out in vintage fashion, exploding for 54 points in a double over-time thriller versus Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks. If you watched this game, you remember his step-back three to put the Dubs up two points with 20 seconds left in the first OT. After the shot fell through the basket, Klay turned around and powered his fist through the air, smiting the demons and silencing the haters that had been clouding his headspace all season long.

That victory over the Hawks came on the second day of January — a month that proved to be dominant for Klay, as he posted 27ppg -- a new career high. Had you told this to one of the many fans that demanded a trade locked and his head on a stick earlier in the season, they would have scoffed at you. But this Klay was different. It was as though the weight of his injuries, personal struggles, and team-wide woes and frustrations had been valiantly lifted off of his shoulders — by no one other than himself. The month-long stretch breathed new life into Klay, re-establishing his self-confidence and enabling him to settle into a comfortable groove.

Then, in February, we saw a new version of Klay. Not the “Killa Klay” of old that everyone had been wishing for, but a refined offensive machine boasting fresh layers and developments to his game that were never present – even in previous champion runs. Isolation off-the-dribble threes, pump-fakes after penetration to draw contact (Klay shooting free-throws?!), cerebral passes to teammates in situations you may have expected him to live out his “shooters shoot” mentality, and consistent rebounding efforts by the 6'6" shooting guard have given the Dubs the edge they need in a season that has been frustratingly average.

Most importantly, Klay’s well-rounded performances could not have possibly come at a better time. With Steph Curry’s injury in early February, Klay has become a much-needed leader and playmaker for four consecutive weeks. In this span, his newfound offensive bag has been on full display, conveying a more mature and deliberate approach to the game. The best part is that these developments have come in addition to — not in place of — his prowess as the second-best shooter of all time. At 25.5ppg in February, Klay recorded his second-best scoring month, behind only January’s new career-high. Klay’s performance in 2023 has been remarkable -- and it’s the best version we have seen of the 6'6" sniper’s veteran career.

Steph and Andre Iguodala are set to make their return in today’s matchup @ the Los Angeles Lakers (30-34), and the Dubs are sitting at four games over .500 (34-30) for the first time this season, good for sole possession of 5th in the West. Poised to carry their momentum from a perfect 5-0 homestand to the upcoming road trip, Klay Thompson’s sensational play has perfectly positioned the Dubs to make a huge push to close out the regular season.

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