Klay Thompson channels Manu Ginobili as he is getting ready to adjust to his new role off the bench. It was with shock that the NBA world received the announcement that Thompson was not going to be starting tonight. Although he said that he was happy to take on a reduced role for the betterment of the whole team, no one expected Kerr to implement it so soon.

But Klay seems not too worried about it. In the post-game presser, he says, “I thought of Manu Ginobili, that guy has four rings and a gold medal and he came off the bench his whole career.” He mentioned that he talked with his coach about the bench role before the game.

The difference in his mindset was on full display when he stated, “You can pout, or you can go out there and respond. And I think I did the latter very well tonight.” He sure did. Klay finished the night with 35 points, 13-of-22 field goals, and seven of 13 three-pointers with zero turnovers. And this is coming from a guy who is averaging just 17.3 points per game this season – the lowest since his rookie days.

His talk with Kerr also helped, it seems. Thompson further elaborated that coming off the bench meant playing more minutes. And that’s something he looks forward to. Klay’s response also showed that he well and truly embraced Ginobili. He drew attention to how important it was to “let the ego go.” The man after whom Klay is planning to shape his next steps also said something along similar lines.

“… Get that ego thing out of the middle,”: Manu Ginobili on coming off the bench

Ginobili was part of the “Big Three” of the San Antonio Spurs. Pop’s very own ace card. He was already an established player in Europe when he started as a rookie in the NBA. From being a 3x Italian League All-Star to a EuroLeague Champion, Ginobili’s resume screamed NBA legend.

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And he most certainly was. But surprisingly, he carved a legendary niche for himself as one of the prominent Sixth Man. The 4x NBA champion came off the bench for the majority of his career. And he loved every second of it. But it wasn’t without its challenges. Appearing in a press conference after his retirement, Ginobili opened up about his struggles. “At the beginning, it was a tough one,” he admitted. “But once you get that ego thing out of the middle, I understood that was my role. That it was going to be better for the team.”

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It has become clear now that Klay did his homework. If one of the greatest of greats of the NBA could come off the bench while still contributing heavily to his team, Thompson doesn’t see any reason for him to not do the same. After all, his ultimate wish is to finish his NBA career with the same squad he started.

And if that means a sixth-man role for the foreseeable future, then that’s what he plans to do. Do you like this new version of Klay Thompson? Will this new perspective and maturity erase the playfulness we have become accustomed to? Let us know your thoughts!

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