Like most people, Jonathan Kuminga knows Klay Thompson as shooter supreme -- the Warriors' dead-eye marksman and one of the greatest shooters of all time.
But Kuminga didn't see Klay Thompson, assist maven, coming when the five-time All-Star returned to the court.
"Me growing up, watching Klay play, I've never seen him pass the ball the way he did today," Kuminga said Tuesday night after the Warriors' beatdown of the Dallas Mavericks at Chase Center. "So, it's surprising. But just having him on the floor means a lot because a lot of people are going to go double Steph [Curry] or Klay and you are going to be wide open."
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Since making his return on Jan. 9, Thompson has shown he is more than just a human flamethrower from beyond the arc. Thompson dished out six assists Tuesday night in his best game so far this season.
"I played point guard growing up, and I played quarterback, so vision was always in my repertoire," Thompson said Tuesday of his passing and court vision.
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Before the torn ACL and torn Achilles, Thompson was at the peak of his scoring powers during the 2019 NBA Finals. The shooting touch is still silky, but the Warriors' offense can be enhanced by a Klay who is looking to do more than launch from deep.
Golden State Warriors
“I just want to be as complete as a possibly can,” Thompson said after a 102-86 win over the Detroit Pistons on Jan 18. “The best players to ever play my position could do it all, score at all three levels. And I consider myself a scorer. At times, I can play-make. But I did a good job tonight as far as creating. Four assists? That’s good for myself. And a good assist-to-turnover ratio.”
Never known for his passing, Thompson has shifted his mentality after two-plus years away from the game. That change should only make the Warriors' offense that much more lethal in the long run.