Klay Thompson was asked if he models his game after Manu

[slick'81]

non issue hes freaking son lol

[Obstructed_View]

It seems weird to think that mere "possibility" is enough to make a comment fine. When I was new to my profession I wouldn't have dreamed of publicly announcing that I could be "as good or better" than a successful well-respected better in my field before having achieved anything. And if I did people would have described me in unflattering terms.

If he'd have called a presser to say it, I'd be on the "what a dumbass he is" bandwagon. I give guys a pass for answering questions.

[DMC]

The problem is not his confidence, the problem is that he clearly doesn't recognize just how great a player Ginobili is. He probably thinks he's just another All-Star caliber player, like a Johnson, Ellis, etc.

And he's definitely delusional. He's got zero chance of ever being as good as Ginobili. The best that can be hoped for is that he becomes a more durable, maybe slightly more well rounded version of Martin.

You don't know how good that kid is going to be and any rookie who would say he's not going to be as good any any other player isn't someone I would want on my team.

[MannyIsGod]

Well its just a good thing they didn't ask him if he could be as good as Tony Parker cause then the CoM would be REALLY pissed.

[Obstructed_View]

He needs to hire you to do PR for him. That's pretty good.

Look at it this way: how about if Kawhi had come here and said in an interview that he knew he could be just as good, or better than, say, Grant Hill? Or how about Sean Elliott? Would you be applauding him for it, or thinking that the rookie should tone it down? I'd be doing the second. Maybe we're just that different, but I just think it's a bit much to single out another player like that. It would be bad enough for a #1 pick who really set the league on fire - but for anyone else, it's just not smart.

For me, at least, it has nothing to do with it being Manu. That's the one part that's the interviewer's fault. He could have just said that he doesn't pattern his game after anyone, and that he just does his own thing.

I really don't think we're that far apart on this. I completely agree with you on the case you made, except for the one thing I keep going back to: He didn't "come out and say it", he was asked the question and he answered it. He didn't come off disrespectful about it to me in the way he worded his answer. I'm not sure where I've "applauded" his answer. It's frankly kind of a stupid question, and my reaction to reading it was to shrug my shoulders. I guess he could given some vanilla answer or acted like Pop and made fun of the guy asking the questions. Just seems like a non-issue to me, and I doubt we'd be making a big deal about it if Manu's name weren't brought up.

Believe me, my feelings really aren't that strong on this non-issue one way or another.

[Cow Eye]

1. Good for Thompson. He should be setting his goals high.

2. at anyone getting upset over this.

"Getting upset" and thinking it's and hilarious are two different things.

[Proxy]

If he wanted to answer the question correctly in regards to skill comparison with a sense of respect or in political fashion, he wouldn't use names no matter the question... but he's a young brat...

I don't see anything wrong with looking at his answer in a negative way... but the high and logical road would be to not give a . Manu doesn't care, I'm sure, so I don't.

[Cow Eye]

If he wanted to answer the question correctly in regards to skill comparison with a sense of respect or in political fashion, he wouldn't use names no matter the question... but he's a young brat...

I don't see anything wrong with looking at his answer in a negative way... but the high and logical road would be to not give a . Manu doesn't care, I'm sure, so I don't.

Exactly. It has nothing to do with having confidence in your abilities. Of course athletes should have confidence. It's about how he's so obviously not humble when, atm, he's a nobody.

[TheSkeptic]

You don't know how good that kid is going to be and any rookie who would say he's not going to be as good any any other player isn't someone I would want on my team.

There's a difference between being confident in your abilities and being delusional. A good player that has a realistic understanding of the game is one that can be coached in the right direction. A guy who has an inflated sense of his own skill-level probably won't reach his full potential. Give me the realist who plays within himself every time.

Manu has won everywhere he's gone at the highest levels of basketball and he's headed to the Hall of Fame. Thompson is a rookie on the Golden State Warriors. There is no comparison and it's highly unlikely that he'll be better than Manu.

If Thompson simply doesn't know who Manu is, that still reflects badly on him because that means he needs to sit down and do some studying before talking to the media.

And no, this isn't just about Manu. I hate Lebron as much as the next person but if say Leonard came out with a similar statement I'd still be irritated.

[Libri]

Best Case: Mike Miller In Prime
Worst Case: Marco Belinelli

From DraftExpress.com

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Klay-Thompson-5490/

[GSH]

I really don't think we're that far apart on this. I completely agree with you on the case you made, except for the one thing I keep going back to: He didn't "come out and say it", he was asked the question and he answered it. He didn't come off disrespectful about it to me in the way he worded his answer. I'm not sure where I've "applauded" his answer. It's frankly kind of a stupid question, and my reaction to reading it was to shrug my shoulders. I guess he could given some vanilla answer or acted like Pop and made fun of the guy asking the questions. Just seems like a non-issue to me, and I doubt we'd be making a big deal about it if Manu's name weren't brought up.

Believe me, my feelings really aren't that strong on this non-issue one way or another.

Heh... if we're going to start commenting only on the things we care deeply about, ST is doomed.


Hmmm....

Skip Bayless got owned by Jalen Rose... nope.
Corey Joseph sighting in the mall or something... nope.
Does NBA411 think the Spurs are "true contenders".... nope.
Should we tank, for for 1st or 2nd seed (x 10).... nope.
Stephen Jackson mixtape... nope.
Nocioni's possible return to NBA and Spurs... nope.

[Obstructed_View]

Heh... if we're going to start commenting only on the things we care deeply about, ST is doomed.


Hmmm....

Skip Bayless got owned by Jalen Rose... nope.
Corey Joseph sighting in the mall or something... nope.
Does NBA411 think the Spurs are "true contenders".... nope.
Should we tank, for for 1st or 2nd seed (x 10).... nope.
Stephen Jackson mixtape... nope.
Nocioni's possible return to NBA and Spurs... nope.