Klay Thompson on LeBron James: “He has no weaknesses”
Klay Thompson looks back on the toughest opponents he faced throughout his career and puts LeBron James at the top: in the NBA Finals, he was virtually unstoppable
After overcoming devastating injuries that inevitably limited his athletic durability, Klay Thompson, at 36, remains a highly reliable veteran shooter, although he is a long way from the defensive peaks he reached during his prime with the Golden State Warriors.
At his best, the four-time NBA champion was one of the league’s most complete defensive guards/wings, capable of locking up opponents across multiple positions and earning an All-Defensive Team selection in the 2018-19 season.
Yet when Thompson was asked during a livestream with streamer PlaqueBoyMax who had been the toughest opponent to contain on the court, he had no hesitation in naming LeBron James.
The evolution of his shot and the absence of weaknesses
What made James seemingly unbeatable in Thompson’s eyes was the constant evolution of his game. Early in his career, LeBron was often criticized for an inconsistent outside shot (although that was more than compensated for by his overwhelming physical dominance attacking the rim). By the time of their biggest Finals battles, his arsenal had become complete:
We played him in four straight Finals and I’ve never seen anybody control a game the way he does. He can do anything on the floor, he just has no weaknesses. Early in his career, his outside shot was a little shaky. But when we played him, man, that shot from the right side of the left wing had become automatic. He was by far the toughest opponent I’ve ever had to guard, without a doubt
Klay Thompson
The numbers back up the sense of helplessness felt by the Warriors’ defense. In their 27 head-to-head matchups, LeBron (who will break more incredible records in 2027) averaged staggering numbers of 27.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game, significantly improving his shooting percentages from midrange and beyond the arc during the years of his battles with Golden State.
During the same Twitch livestream, there was also time for a lighthearted moment in which streamer PlaqueBoyMax managed to score five straight points in a 1-on-1 against the former Golden State star. It was a fun little moment in which Thompson was clearly playing at minimal intensity, but it also underscored how his career has now entered a different phase.