Klay Thompson Bio
Klay Alexander Thompson is an American professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association. He played his first 13 seasons with the Golden State Warriors, where he formed one of the most prolific shooting duos in NBA history alongside Stephen Curry. Thompson is widely regarded as one of the greatest three-point shooters of all time. He is a four-time NBA champion, a five-time NBA All-Star, and a two-time All-NBA Third Team selection. Thompson won the NBA Three-Point Contest in 2016 and has represented the United States national team, earning gold medals at the 2014 FIBA World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games.
Early Life and Background
Thompson was born on February 8, 1990, in Los Angeles, California, to Julie and Mychal Thompson. His father, Mychal, was the first overall pick of the 1978 NBA draft and played 13 seasons in the NBA. His mother played collegiate volleyball at the University of Portland and University of San Francisco. When Thompson was two years old, his family moved to Lake Oswego, Oregon, where he grew up as childhood friends and Little League teammates with fellow future NBA star Kevin Love. Thompson and his brothers were raised as devout Catholics and have Bahamian ancestry through their father.
When Thompson was 14, his family relocated to Ladera Ranch, California. He graduated from Santa Margarita Catholic High School in Rancho Santa Margarita in 2008. During his senior year, Thompson averaged 21 points per game and led his high school to a 30-5 record and a Division III State Championship appearance. He set a state finals record with seven three-pointers in a game during that championship and was named Division III State Player of the Year, League MVP, first-team Best in the West, and an EA Sports Second Team All-American.
Path to Professional Basketball
Thompson played college basketball for three seasons with the Washington State Cougars from 2008 to 2011. He started all 33 games as a freshman, leading his team in three-point field goal percentage and free throw percentage while averaging 12.5 points per game. He earned Pac-10 All-Freshman Team honors and Collegehoops.net All-Freshman Honorable Mention recognition.
As a sophomore, Thompson led the Cougars to the Great Alaska Shootout Championship and set a tournament single-game record with 43 points in the championship game. He became the third fastest Cougar to reach 1,000 points and earned All-Pac-10 First Team honors. In his junior season, Thompson led the Pac-10 in scoring and again earned All-Pac-10 first team recognition. He set WSU’s single-season scoring record with 733 points and became the program’s third all-time leading scorer. On January 18, 2020, Washington State retired the No. 1 jersey that Thompson wore in college.
Klay Thompson Career
Golden State Warriors (2011–2024)
Thompson declared for the 2011 NBA draft after his junior season and was selected 11th overall by the Golden State Warriors. Warriors general manager Larry Riley praised Thompson for his shooting ability and expressed confidence in his potential to develop defensively under new coach Mark Jackson. In his rookie season, Thompson showed significant improvement after the Warriors traded Monta Ellis to the Milwaukee Bucks in March 2012, and he was voted to the NBA All-Rookie First Team at season’s end.
During the 2012-13 season, Warriors coach Mark Jackson declared that Thompson and Stephen Curry formed the best shooting duo in NBA history. That year, they combined for 483 three-pointers, the most ever by an NBA duo at the time. In the playoffs, Thompson recorded a career-high 34 points against the San Antonio Spurs in the second round, hitting 8-of-9 three-pointers. The Warriors lost to the Spurs in six games but had established themselves as a rising force in the Western Conference.
Splash Brothers Era and Championship Success (2014–2019)
On October 31, 2014, Thompson signed a four-year, $70 million contract extension with the Warriors. On January 23, 2015, he scored a career-high 52 points against the Sacramento Kings, including an NBA-record 37 points in the third quarter. He went 13-for-13 from the field in that quarter, with nine three-pointers, both records for a single quarter. Thompson was named a Western Conference All-Star reserve for the first time in his career that season. The Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in six games to win the NBA championship, ending the franchise’s 40-year championship drought.
The following season, Thompson won the NBA Three-Point Contest during All-Star Weekend, defeating Curry and Devin Booker in the final round. The Warriors finished with a record 73 wins, falling just short of the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls’ record of 72. In the playoffs, Thompson became the first player in NBA history to make at least seven three-pointers in consecutive playoff games. In Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, he made 11 three-pointers and scored 41 points as the Warriors rallied from a 3-1 deficit. The Warriors ultimately lost to the Cavaliers in seven games in the Finals despite leading the series 3-1.
Thompson continued his elite performance in subsequent seasons. On December 5, 2016, he scored a career-high 60 points in just 29 minutes against the Indiana Pacers, becoming the first player in NBA history to score 60 points in less than 30 minutes of action. The Warriors won championships in 2017 and 2018, defeating the Cavaliers in both Finals. During the 2018-19 season, Thompson tied an NBA record by making his first 10 attempts from three-point range on his way to scoring 44 points against the Los Angeles Lakers. He earned NBA All-Defensive Second Team honors that season. In Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors, Thompson tore his ACL and the Warriors lost the series.
Injury Recovery and Return (2019–2024)
On July 1, 2019, Thompson agreed to stay with the Warriors on a five-year, $190 million contract. He underwent surgery for his torn ACL the following day and missed the entire 2019-20 season. On November 19, 2020, it was announced that Thompson would also miss the 2020-21 season after suffering an Achilles tendon injury during a pickup game in Los Angeles. After more than two and a half years away from competitive basketball, Thompson made his return on January 9, 2022, scoring 17 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Thompson’s return was celebrated as he helped the Warriors capture the NBA championship in 2022, his fourth title. In Game 3 of the first round of the playoffs, he passed Hall of Fame guard Ray Allen for third place on the NBA playoffs all-time three-pointers list. During the 2022-23 season, Thompson scored a season-high 54 points against the Atlanta Hawks in a double-overtime victory. He also became the only player in NBA history to record multiple games with 12 or more three-pointers in a single season.
Dallas Mavericks (2024–Present)
After playing his first 13 seasons with the Warriors, Thompson signed with the Dallas Mavericks on a three-year, $50 million contract via a six-team sign-and-trade on July 6, 2024. This became the NBA’s first six-team transaction in league history. On October 24, 2024, Thompson made his Mavericks debut, scoring 22 points with six three-pointers made and seven rebounds in a victory over the San Antonio Spurs. His six three-pointers made set a Mavericks franchise record for the most three-pointers in a debut game.
On November 12, Thompson made his return to Chase Center as a visitor for the first time, receiving a tribute video before scoring 22 points behind six made three-pointers in a narrow loss to his former team. On December 25, 2024, Thompson made his 2,561st career three-pointer, passing Reggie Miller for fifth on the NBA’s all-time 3-pointers made list. His shooting prowess continued to add to his legacy as one of the greatest shooters in basketball history.
Playing Style and Strengths
Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighing 220 pounds, Thompson plays exclusively at the shooting guard position. He is both a prolific and efficient shooter, particularly from beyond the arc, as well as an elite free-throw shooter. Thompson’s shooting form has been described as textbook and picture-perfect. Though capable of handling the ball, Thompson is primarily a catch-and-shoot player who takes advantage of back-cuts and screens set by teammates to create space for his quick-release shot. He is considered a strong defender thanks to his size at the guard position and ability to guard both elite guards and wings. Thompson is also praised for his stamina and is known as a clutch scorer, particularly in Game 6 situations of playoff series, earning him the nickname Game 6 Klay.
Notable Achievements and Records
Thompson holds numerous NBA records, including the single-quarter record of 37 points and nine three-pointers in a quarter. He set the NBA record with 14 three-pointers in a single game on October 29, 2018, breaking Stephen Curry’s former mark of 13. Thompson has multiple seasons with at least 200 three-pointers made and joined Stephen Curry and James Harden as the only players in NBA history to accomplish that feat multiple times. He has passed several all-time greats on the career three-pointers list, including Reggie Miller, Ray Allen, and others, cementing his status among the greatest shooters ever.
Klay Thompson Career Wins
Throughout his career, Thompson has accumulated an impressive collection of team championships and individual accolades. His four NBA championships came with the Golden State Warriors in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022. He earned five All-Star selections from 2015 to 2019 and was named to the All-NBA Third Team twice in 2015 and 2016.
Championship Highlights
Thompson’s championship journey began with the Warriors’ 2015 title, ending a 40-year drought for the franchise. He played a crucial role in all four championship runs, particularly excelling in the NBA Finals. During the 2022 Finals against the Boston Celtics, Thompson joined Stephen Curry and LeBron James as the only players in NBA history to make at least 100 three-pointers on the championship stage. He passed LeBron James for second place on the NBA Finals all-time three-pointers list during that series.
Individual Accolades
Beyond team success, Thompson won the NBA Three-Point Contest in 2016, showcasing his shooting prowess in a competition setting. He earned NBA All-Defensive Second Team honors in 2019, demonstrating that his contributions extended beyond offensive production. His 60-point game in December 2016 remains one of the most efficient scoring performances in modern NBA history, accomplished in just three quarters of play.
International Competition
Thompson represented the United States national team, winning gold medals at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain and the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. He also won gold with the Under-19 national team at the 2009 FIBA Under-19 World Championship in New Zealand.
Klay Thompson Family
Family Background and Athletic Lineage
Thompson comes from an athletic family with deep roots in professional sports. His father, Mychal Thompson, was the first overall pick of the 1978 NBA draft and played 13 seasons in the NBA, winning championships with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1982 and 1985. After winning the NBA Finals in 2015, Klay Thompson and his father became the fourth father-son duo to win an NBA title, joining Matt Guokas Sr. and Jr., Rick and Brent Barry, and Bill and Luke Walton.
Thompson has two brothers. His older brother, Mychel, played basketball for Pepperdine University and had a brief stint in the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers. His younger brother, Trayce, became a Major League Baseball player. The family’s athletic excellence spans both basketball and baseball, making them one of the most accomplished athletic families in American sports.
Personal Life
Thompson is known for his quiet, laid-back personality and offbeat, dry sense of humor. He is an avid chess player and has met with former world chess champion Magnus Carlsen. He previously owned an English bulldog named Rocco who was a familiar sight at Warriors games. Thompson has been sponsored by Chinese shoe company Anta since signing a 10-year deal in 2016, becoming one of the few NBA players with that distinction.
Thompson has been involved in charitable efforts, including donating money for relief efforts following the October 2017 Northern California wildfires. He contributed $1,000 for every point he scored in three home games, and with additional matching from sponsors and fans, he raised over $360,000 for relief efforts.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024-25 season marked Thompson’s first full season with the Dallas Mavericks following his move from the Warriors. He made an immediate impact with his new team, setting a franchise record with six three-pointers in his debut game. Thompson continued to climb the NBA’s all-time three-pointers made list, surpassing Reggie Miller during the holiday season. His shooting consistency remained a hallmark of his game as he worked to establish chemistry with his new teammates in Dallas.
Thompson’s ability to stretch the floor and provide spacing for the Mavericks’ offense added a new dimension to the team’s attack. Playing alongside Luka Dončić, Thompson served as a secondary scoring option and floor spacer. The transition from the Warriors’ system to the Mavericks’ scheme required adjustment, but Thompson’s basketball IQ and shooting pedigree allowed him to remain productive throughout the season.
Throughout his career, Thompson has demonstrated remarkable resilience, returning from multiple major injuries to perform at an elite level. His work ethic and dedication to his craft have allowed him to maintain his status as one of the NBA’s premier shooting guards. As he continues his career with the Mavericks, Thompson remains focused on contributing to team success while adding to his legacy as one of the greatest three-point shooters in basketball history.