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Klay Thompson had struggled to find his rhythm through his first five games with the Miami Heat. That changed Friday night when the former Golden State Warriors star put together a performance that reminded fans of his best years.
The turnaround drew plenty of reactions online, with some fans bringing up former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas and his recent criticism of Thompson.
Thompson scored a season-high 25 points in just 26 minutes during Miami’s 145-125 win over the Indiana Pacers. He shot 9-for-14 from the field, including 7-for-12 from beyond the arc, and added 3 assists. The Heat outscored the Pacers by 19 with him on the floor.
Heat Nation ran through his stat line before declaring: “HE STILL GOT IT.”
Underdog NBA summed up the performance in one word: “Vintage.”
Legion Hoops had a nickname for Thompson’s Miami chapter: “Biscayne Klay has arrived.”
One fan kept it short: “Bout time.” Another remarked, “When it’s good, it’s good.”
Thompson had scored just 39 points across Miami’s first 5 games, shooting 13-for-41 from the field. Against the Detroit Pistons on Oct. 23, he went 2-for-11, with all 11 attempts coming from 3-point distance.
The four-time NBA champion joined Miami after the Dallas Mavericks bought him out. His slow start had already caught Gilbert Arenas’ attention.
“I’m confused. I personally have never seen a shooter, like, be cold this long… It’s been three seasons… Like, you was invincible. Like, your shot was invincible… In your worst year, you were Ray Allen! How do you lose your shot?”
Arenas’ remarks resurfaced as Thompson began making shots Friday. One fan tweeted that Thompson “heard what Gilbert Arenas said.”
Another fan, replying to Heat Nation’s post, wrote, “He heard the noise.”
Thompson acknowledged his difficult start to the season but said he had been confident a night like this was coming. “I really enjoyed it. You can probably tell by my emotion, and for me, it wasn’t the best start to the season. But to come out here and play with poise and confidence, I knew I was due for a night like this.”
The veteran sharpshooter also explained how he avoided forcing his offense after struggling in the previous games.
“Not trynna force shots early, especially when you haven’t shot the ball well… Tonight I did a great job of playing off my teammates. Feeding our big guys in the post, and the ball eventually found me.”
Friday was Thompson’s first 20-point game with Miami.