How Klay Thompson redefined the art of the three-point shot in the NBA

Countries & Cities · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: As one half of the Splash Brothers, Klay Thompson transformed professional basketball with his lethal perimeter shooting. A four-time champion, his career is defined by record-breaking scoring outbursts and a remarkable resilience, having returned from two major, multi-year injuries to reclaim his place among the game's greatest marksmen.

Born in 1990, Klay Thompson was raised in a family of athletes, with a father who was the first overall pick in the 1978 NBA draft. After a standout collegiate career at Washington State University, where he set the school's single-season scoring record with 733 points, Thompson was selected 11th overall in the 2011 NBA draft by the Golden State Warriors. He quickly became a cornerstone of a dynasty that reached five consecutive NBA Finals between 2015 and 2019.

Thompson’s impact on the game is best measured by his extraordinary shooting efficiency. Alongside Stephen Curry, he formed the Splash Brothers, a duo that shattered three-point records, including a combined 678 in the 2015–16 season. His individual feats are equally staggering; in 2015, he set an NBA record by scoring 37 points in a single quarter, hitting nine three-pointers in that span. In 2016, he became the first player in league history to score 60 points in fewer than 30 minutes of action.

The trajectory of his career was interrupted by severe physical setbacks. During the 2019 NBA Finals, Thompson suffered a torn ACL, and while recovering, he sustained an Achilles tendon injury that sidelined him for over two and a half years. His return in 2022 was capped by a fourth NBA championship, cementing his legacy. By 2024, he had climbed to sixth on the NBA's all-time career three-pointers list, a testament to his enduring skill and specialized role in modern basketball.

Beyond his scoring, Thompson has been recognized for his defensive contributions, earning a selection to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. His career reflects the evolution of the sport, where his ability to space the floor and score in bunches became a blueprint for success. Despite the physical toll of his injuries and the eventual shift in his role, his statistical achievements—including multiple seasons with over 300 three-pointers—place him firmly among the most influential shooters in the history of the league.

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