.png&w=244&h=193&zc=1 "By the numbers: A quick look at the Grizzlies")
Warriors’ Klay Thompson says he can be better than Ginobili
After you get blown out by a team, it’s only logical that you say you’re going to be better than one of 
the players who just demolished you. Right?
Well, that’s what Golden State Warriors rookie guard Klay Thompson did.
Thompson put up 29 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists in the 21-point loss to the Spurs. After the game, he was asked about Manu Ginobili and the similarities between their playing styles.
"I just like to play my own game and do what I can. Because I know I can be just as good, if not better, than Manu Ginobili.”
That’s some confidence right there. Stupid, but confident.
While Thompson is having a solid rookie season, let’s not jump to conclusions after one year. One decent season on a terrible team does not give you the right to start comparing yourself to guy who has done it year in and year out for almost a decade.
Also, no matter how talented Thompson thinks he is, he’s not doing his team much good. He’s averaging 18 points a game in April. Very solid numbers, but his team is 2-8, so maybe he should stop talking until he starts winning some games.
You should never say you think you’re going to be better than another player. Whether it’s true or not, it’s rude and disrespectful. Thompson has a thing or two to learn about manners. I guess he was probably just a little hurt that the Spurs beat them up so bad on their home floor.
This happens often.
Reminds me of the time David Lee said "The Spurs aren't that good of a team" after we just got done spankin' that ass.
Haters galore when you're at the top. They see how easy we make it look and they in turn, think it's easy.
5th ring comin soon....
@russman138 Or when Stoudemire said, “(The Spurs) don’t have nearly enough talent to compete with us. Our personnel, our talent is off the charts," after getting beat by 13. Not just don't have enough talent to beat them. But don't have enough talent to even make it any kind of competition. Honestly, I think these guys read and listen to too much of the crap that these talking heads dish out, and most of them have no concept of what makes up a team. I'm completely convinced that Duncan right now, can completely dominate Amare, in a game, in a series, in a pickup game, whatever.
I think this guy isn't very smart saying something like this. If he wants to compliment Ginobili he should have done it differently, I mean, he has nothing to compare himself to Manu. Manu has the highest winning percentage among all active players in the league. Manu plays with such enthiousiasm in big games, putting everything on the floor. This guy just shows some good shooting skills. Not that I have something against him, his game or his potential future game. But he is just silly and ignorant saying he will be as good as Manu. Even if that would be true, a rookie that says something like that about a man who is playing for about 10 years in the league, with three rings, just has no class.
He dropped 29 points on one of the best teams in the league...your Spurs...while playing on a bad team where the players around him also dont make him better. He made you look stupid and he is a rookie.
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@GoCougs10 Really? He made the Spurs look stupid?
According to the box score I saw, the Spurs won. Easily. That's their goal, not having one guy "drop" some points.
I think you just Klay'd yourself (i.e. made yourself look stupid).
some of his points were in garbage time against a Spurs second and third unit on the floor. not to mention he did clank some bad shots in that game. he's a good kid, but he's still got a lot of learning to do.
Scoring: YesDefense: NO WAY
Make Teammates Better: NO
Courtvision: NO
Smart: Incomplete
Intangibilities: NO WAY IN YOUR CAREER
Thompson is a good kid, a college star, and he could become a volume scorer someday.
But if he doesn't understand how to be humble and playing hard on BOTH ends of the floor, he model will be Melo.
Never show up when the game means most.
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Here is the full quote..."No, I just like to play my own game and do what I can because I know that I can be just as good, if not better than, Manu Ginobili. He's a great player though." I think it's a compliment. At least we wants to get better.
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It's not that I think that what he said was all that bad, its just I'm used to our humble team I guess. Young people boast and run their mouths whether what they say is true or not. Maybe it was a compliment on Ginobili's game. My deal is stat wise there are definitely better players, but its what he brings other than stats players like Thompson need to consider when making such boasts.
I don't see anything wrong with what he said. I love Manu but as for talent there are probably many players that more talent or athletic ability than him. The way Manu gets by and is known for is playing all out 100% of the time hustle and heart. There's not many players that can play all out like that. Oh and who can forget all those clutch moments he's had in his career. Manu will make the HOF but it won't be for anything he really did in the NBA. His overall NBA career isn't that impressive but we know how important he's been for our team.
@kmgospurs 3 titles, a 6th Man trophy, and a 2-time All-Star is impressive enough for me. he'll make it to the HOF because of not just what he's done for us in the NBA, but also for his international success with Argentina. that combination of success should certify his ticket to Springfield.
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Yeah I think he meant it to come out as a compliment and it got out of hand. As a GSW fan you like his confidence but it may be a tad early for him to think he can surpass Manu
Once he leads another country to GOLD against the USA at the Olympics, wins the Euro-League MVP, and is humble enough to come off of the bench for 6th-man of the year, then he could try to challenge Ginobili.
Hate to overuse the phrase, but what a joke. He is either completely naive, or has no basketball knowledge outside of the past few years of the NBA, because that comment is outrageously laughable. Even if he does manage to get those stellar credentials, he will never have the burning desire to win that Ginobili has. Only a handful of players have IT. Being an extreme competitor like Ginobili is all about heart and will to win. Clearly, Thompson lacks that undefinable trait along with basketball smarts considering how ridiculous this comment is.
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Kobe said the same thing about MJ's game when he was asked earlier in his career. There's nothing wrong with the fact that Klay is striving to be as good as a proven champion and declaring it for everyone else to know.
I did not think what he said was that bad. I can be just as good or better does not mean I will be just as good or better. He believes in his upside, nothing wrong with that.
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Most kids know to be humble at this point, Klay has always seemed very likeable from my point of view. This quote is unfortunate cause the kid doesn't really understand what Manu is all about. Klay is a scorer...that's it. Manu is a winner, and will do anything he can to win. When Klay starts working hard on the defensive end we'll start comparing his game to Manu.
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he's a kid, cut him some slack lol I don't feel disrespected, neither should any other Spurs fans. Do you know how many high flying big men *coughAmare'cough* have claimed to be better than Timmy? or year in and year out everyone leaves Tony out of the best PG list? Guess what? The Spurs keep winning as a team and our future hall of famers have sacrificed stats to win championships. Thompson will realize it when people actually game plan for him and make him take tough shots, he's still a rookie. To be honest with you I would take Kawhi over Thompson right now.....
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You know Thompson may become a pretty good player, but looking at the box score, Manu had 12 points in just over 14 minutes. That's almost a point a minute, where Thompson had 29 points playing nearly the entire game. Same can be said for rebounds, and 4 assists vs Thompson's 5 in 1/3 the playing time. Thompson can argue that he's only in his rookie season, but Manu is in the later stage of his career and is unfortunately closer to retirement than being a rookie. Plus all the little things that Manu does for his team, mainly being unselfish and being a team player. Main point being you would never hear Manu say he's going to be better than someone in the context Thompson did. Great players don't need to announce their greatness, it speaks for itself.
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@spurs123 Really??? Thought you would have lost more respect for him after getting busted for pot.
