Victor Wembanyama enjoyed his best game of the season against Sacramento on Monday. The second-year Spurs star racked up 34 points, 14 rebounds, six assists and three blocks. He knocked down half of his 12 three-point attempts and the team’s interim coach wants him to keep hunting shots after a slow offensive start to the season.
“He makes shots every day,” Mitch Johnson said, per Michael C. Wright of ESPN. “He missed really good shots to start the year, and I understand why it’s a talking point. But I don’t think we ever wavered on him not making shots. I think it is just the percentages evening out at this point.”
We have more from the Western Conference:
- Klay Thompson feels even better now about his decision to move on from the Warriors and join the Mavericks, he told Tim MacMahon of ESPN. Thompson says it was a necessary move mentally as well as career-wise. “Honestly, it’s rejuvenated me and done something I needed bad just for my mental and my career,” Thompson said. “So, I really feel the love here, and I feel highly valued that I can do great things.” Thompson is averaging 13.8 points in 3o.1 minutes per night while starting 10 games.
- Devin Booker is still adjusting to Mike Budenholzer‘s rotation patterns. With past coaches, Booker often played the entire first quarter. That hasn’t happened this season — Budenholzer prefers to utilize his players in shorter bursts, Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic notes. “Probably the last eight years of my career, I played the first 12 minutes,” the Suns star guard said. “Trying to find a rhythm, but at the same time, set guys up. It’ll come.”
- The Lakers are off to a 6-4 start and the Orange County Register’s Khobi Price offers 10 observations through the team’s first 10 games. He notes Cam Reddish has made the most of his increased playing time since being added to the rotation last week and that bench scoring has jumped since D’Angelo Russell was moved to the second unit.
Klay was greeted at the arena by 400 Warriors staff members in white sea captain hats. Very touching scene they’ll show it on TNT later.
I think everyone can agree this was a fantastic move for Klay. What’s wrong with change? He had a good run now let’s do something different. YOLO baby.
Klay sure isn’t making it easy to like him. Every word out his mouth this week makes me hope Dray flings him into outer space the first chance he gets, haha
Davey I suggest you read the ESPN article. Just a guy talking about trying something new. No hard feelings by him.
acr89 I am watching all his press conferences this week pregame and he’s being…absolutely the guy we let walk…lol
So touching.
I cried.
I know you’re probably joking around but to me it was very touching and to be honest I almost did shed a tear. That highlight video was just the perfect touch. I think Klay even welled up a little bit.
Waiting for the Warriors Homer Fan Boys to shyt on Klay.
You sure didn’t have to wait long LOL
Right on cue
GS 126 Dallas 108.
Dallas will come in tight. Klay’s emotion will get the best of him.
Meanwhile the Warriors back home from a long road trip in which they were very successful.
The guys playing Klay Thompson’s position Will want to prove they are worthy replacements. Buddy Hield and DeAndre Melton will play very well.
I’m thinking GSW 140 Dallas 121 with both Luka and Steph going off for huge points totals. No defense will be played by Dallas, and GSW will probably only play D for 1 quarter, which is why they will win.
Would LOVE it if Steph broke one of Klay’s single game team records in his face, 38 point quarter? 15 threes? Sicko mode hours about to activate!
I might have been close if either team shot 40% from 3 (reasonable). They did not. 120-117 GSW win.
Gary, are we all-out on Podz yet? He is clearly out of sorts, has zero offensive profile, cant score like Moody can, is a low IQ defender, has no real skill aside from point guard ball handling. If he played no mins tonight, GSW would have blown this out.
Also, can Kerr finally play Looney 30 MPG so he can average 30 REB a game? Every time Kerr plays him now, its double figures in mins and rebounds, but Kerr refuses to play him sometimes, like, why? We lose games when our best players don’t play. Looney really cooks when he’s out there and grabs so many offensive REB its wild. One of the Dubs highest IQ guys that Kerr refuses to play.
Looney-Dray-Wiggs-Melton-Curry is our highest IQ rotation.
Klay had 0 points in his last game as a Warrior. :( He would be 14th player off the bench on the current team. He had to go. But I choose to remember him for that title game in which he got hurt after KD got hurt. Klay was unbelievable and even nailed 2 ft after the injury. What a Warrior!!
Jesus, some of these fans are really salty about Klay.
That young man gave GS his very best years, and probably even shortened his career for the sake of that team winning, constantly playing through injuries. There is no dynasty without Klay, plain and simple. He is the cog in that machine that made everything work. At his best, people forget what an excellent defender Klay was as well, and him and Draymond had to make up for Steph’s lack of defense before he became a mildly adequate perimeter defender. He also kept Steph from constantly being able to be doubled and tripled, because everyone knew if you let get open and let him get hot, you didn’t stand a chance to beat them.
Klay was of the game’s best two-way stars, and he could light anyone up for a 50 piece in a heartbeat. Watching him shoot has always been one of my favorite things in the NBA over the past several years. It almost always seemed like no matter how off balance he was Klays shot was going in, and he didn’t need any room or time at all to get his shot off either. Just insane..
Anyways, enough reminiscing, he is still a quality player, and I am glad he’s getting another chance at a title opportunity with Dallas. He certainly deserves it, and deserves more respect from some of these Golden State “fans.”
Some of y’all should be ashamed of yourselves.
If you watched the game there was no type of sentiment that you’re talking about whatsoever.
He walked into the arena with 400 employees wearing Captain hats and cheering him on.
Then when he was introduced in the starting lineup, the entire Arena with Captain Klay hats stood and applauded for a long time.
Then the Warriors themselves also put out a tribute video for the man in respect and appreciation for what he’s done.
I have no clue what you’re referring to because Warriors fans only showed appreciation tonight. Everyone is happy that he’s happy. I don’t see anywhere tonight and I watched the entire game, pregame, post game, where not a single fan or person associated with the Warriors is bitter. I think you’re WAAAAY off base with your comments.
Right Gary?!?! Richard prob not a Dubs fan
??? What salty warrior fans? They cheered for Thompson and gave him a standing ovation. Even when he left the court they cheered.
Let me spell it for you guys, Davey J
1 guy that most warrior fans ignore is not the warrior nation. the guy said some when it is 1.
Yes Tantan and I appreciate how you clarified that yesterday with a couple of follow up comments. We knew exactly who you were talking about but still it’s nice that you spelled it out.
Some of us looong time Warrior fans are quick to jump on anyone who groups us all together with one or two who are unreasonable and have opinions that are ridiculous at times.
So when somebody comes on here after a glorious night at Chase Center and writes a six-paragraph diatribe regarding ungrateful Warriors fans, we might jump all over him and strongly disagree.
18,000 Plus at the arena went nuts with respect for captain Klay. Not going to allow some random poster wreck the whole vibe and not respond to it with at least a little pushback.
I mean, there are others, but it’s mostly the Twitter fans who have nothing better to do than cry and bandwagoners. True Warriors fans known exactly how much Klay did for them and the team. Warriors fans who are both real and intelligent also recognized it was time to part ways, but don’t wish him ill, just want to beat him when it’s game time. I don’t think there are actual ill feelings there in truth.
Amen Eon.
They’re just lying about me now, smh. Anything anyone wants to make up about anyone, its all my fault now, gross. Glad I blocked all these fraud Warriors fans who never believe in the team and want the dynasty over – yall would not last 5 mins on Dub Nation instagram or twitter – could NEVER be me!
Look if we are talking historically, all respect to Klay Thompson. 37 in a quarter, 60 in 3, 14 3’s in a game, 4 rings, he’s a goat. But now he is an OPPONENT. It grossed me out how hard the entire Warriors fanbase were supporting him – it literally kept the Mavs in that game! It felt like a Mavs home game with everyone in Klay jersies and wearing that stupid ass giveaway hat. Why give the opponent confidence like that? Save that for his retirement!
Good for Klay. He deserved his admiration from the fans. Without him, there’s no dynasty. Game 6 2016 was as clutch performance as I’ve seen in years.
GSW came out on top too with letting him go, great more depth and got younger and healthier. Both teams played well and it came down to a clutch shot by an all time great player. We’ll look back at this at the end of the year and say “one of the better regular season games of the year”.
Good luck to both teams health wise.
Yes raz, well written, and it was good to see Klay performing well last night. Nobody on the Warriors side wants to see him Crash and Burn I can assure you that.
I hope he does well. I hope he fulfills exactly what the Mavericks need from him and that’s great shooting, a little bit of savy and floor spacing, and of course Championship experience vibes in the locker room and on the floor.
Gary,
The West playoffs will be must see TV this year (I hope) lol after a lackluster playoffs last year from both conferences.
Yes exactly. As one guy said, maybe Scarlett, it’s going to be a bloodbath. May the strongest and healthiest team survive.