Klay Thompson

In basketball parlance, it’s often said that during must-score possessions, the inbounding passer can be the floor’s most dangerous threat. As both the 2011-12 Sacramento Kings can attest — as well as the rest of the NBA over the decade to come — those fears can be multiplied by two, or perhaps three, when the player in question is Klay Thompson. Urged to deliver the game-tying triple with nine seconds remaining, the youthful-yet-poised rookie fulfills the request in trademark style, passing to a teammate before springing to the far left corner. Open and unpressured following his teammate’s off-ball screen, Thompson rises into a 3-point bucket, prompting an overtime period. Even in defeat, Thompson proved battles against his Pacific Division rivals to be must-see matchups from Year One. Recording a career-high against those same Kings a month later, Thompson’s production on February 4, 2012 included 16 points (on an efficient five-of-eight shooting), three rebounds, one steal, one block, and four 3-point makes. Through limited volume, the Golden State Warriors sharpshooter showed early returns as an burgeoning two-way star, finishing at No. 6 on the season’s Rookie of the Year balloting.

Rookie Year