Klay Thompson likens Giannis Antetokounmpo’s impact to Warriors star Steph Curry

Klay Thompson likens Giannis Antetokounmpo’s impact to Warriors star Steph Curry originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Klay Thompson officially is the newest member of the Miami Heat, where he joins a team hungry for a deep NBA playoff run after revamping its roster, also acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks.

Advertisement

Thompson is a star in his own right, winning four NBA championships in 13 seasons with the Warriors and five All-Star nods. But Antetokounmpo is one of the biggest stars of the modern era, and for Thompson, the Greek Freak has the same impact as Steph Curry, especially with the way he plays.

“They both have a similar impact on the game,” Thompson told reporters Tuesday in Miami. “I think Giannis would be the third [NBA] MVP that I have been able to play with now, which is really cool. His interior scoring is one of the best ever and his jump shot is greatly improved. You can’t sag off him like you used to. He will punish you, and he’s just an incredible talent who has a great will to win. And I love being around guys like that who leave it out on the floor and really care about their craft.

“That’s what attracted me too, is just like wow, I get to play with another MVP-caliber player, and that’s rare. I don’t take this role I have lightly. Whatever it is, I’m not just happy to be here but I’m just thrilled to have a defined role on this team to try to help guys with my experience and help guide the team through a roller coaster of a season because it’s never easy when you’re trying to chase what we’re trying to do.”

Thompson joins the Heat after spending the previous two seasons with the Dallas Mavericks. Signing a three-year deal with the team in 2024, major roster turnover and a diminished role led to Thompson and the Mavs agreeing to a contract buy-out, allowing him to hit NBA free agency a year early.

Now, Thompson will look to maximize the last few seasons of his career and win one more ring before he retires alongside another superstar.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/klay-thompson-likens-giannis-antetokounmpos-211234593.html

Author :

Publish date : 2026-08-25 21:12:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.