Klay Thompson was inserted into the Golden State Warriors starting lineup for their win over the Miami Heat on Tuesday.
The veteran sharpshooter had been coming off the bench in recent months. In that role, he found a consistency he had lacked at the start of the season. Thompson performed well against Miami, ending the game with 28 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists on 42.9% shooting from 3-point range.
During his postgame press conference, head coach Steve Kerr noted how Thompson’s move back into the starting lineup is unlikely to be a permanent switch. Instead, the four-time champion will likely resume his role off the bench in the near future.
“I just felt like we needed a little more spacing on the floor to start the game,” Kerr said. “It doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s permanent. I just felt like tonight, that was important.”
Thompson’s impending free agency has been a hot topic all season. The veteran will become an unrestricted free agent once the current campaign concludes.
Kerr went with Klay in the Dubs' starting five to add more spacing but notes the move isn't "permanent" pic.twitter.com/5ZcZ5n73w8
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) March 27, 2024
Whether Thompson comes off the bench or is part of the starting lineup, the most important thing is he makes an impact within the Warriors’ rotation and finds consistency in his shooting form. If he can continue to have an impact like he did against Miami, the Warriors could claw their way into the playoffs and potentially go on a run.
