Thompson Golden as 11th pick
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 14 years, 5 months AGO
<p>NBA Commissioner David Stern, left, poses with the No. 11 overall draft pick, Washington State guard Klay Thompson, who was selected by the Golden State Warriors in the NBA basketball draft Thursday, June 23, 2011, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)</p>
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Maybe the last thing the Golden State Warriors needed was another shooter.
They believe Klay Thompson was just too good to pass up.
Golden State drafted the Washington State guard with the 11th pick in the NBA draft Thursday night, adding another potent shooter to an already crowded backcourt.
"We will address our issues. But this was an opportunity that we couldn't pass up," new coach Mark Jackson said. "Who's to say we didn't get better today?"
Warriors general manager Larry Riley called Thompson the best pure shooter in the draft earlier this week. Jackson reiterated that sentiment on the television broadcast. Knicks President Donnie Walsh even compared Thompson to Reggie Miller, one of the most lethal 3-pointer shooters in history.
Thompson led the Pac-10 last season with 21.6 points per game to go with 4.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists. The 6-foot-7 guard gives some size to the smaller Stephen Curry-Monta Ellis duo, although he’s another perimeter player not known for defense.
Riley believes Thompson will be a rotation player and strong contributor off the bench as a rookie. He also said Thompson could see more time at small forward behind Dorell Wright, who is coming off a breakout year.
At the very least, Thompson gives a shoot-first team even more punch.
“I feel like I can come off the bench and provide great scoring,” Thompson said. “I feel like I can swing between three positions at will and be the versatile guard they’re looking for.”
Thompson also comes from a strong sports family. His father, Mychal, was the No. 1 overall pick by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1978 draft and played 12 seasons in the league, winning three championships as a role player with the Los Angeles Lakers.
“I couldn’t be happier about being drafted by the Warriors and the direction that they’re going,” Thompson said. “It just gives me chills thinking about it.”