Don’t think Klay Thompson can’t guard anymore, Klay Thompson says to Kon Kneuppel, who wants to model his game after Thompson on both sides of the floor.
At first glance, Kon Kneuppel and Klay Thompson do look similar. Both large shooting guards at 6-5, who are known for their elite shooting and defense.
They are different generations, of course, one hasn’t even proven yet that he can play in the NBA, but his Summer League MVP award gives us a good idea of his ceiling.
The other is one of the best shooters the league has ever seen, a talented and effective off-ball mover and has four titles, a five-time NBA All-Star, a two-time All-NBA Third Team honoree, and once named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team.
The younger one, Kneuppel, who was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets with the number four pick this year, has previously talked about Klay Thompson’s influence on his game, and if you watch him play, you can see similarities.
Like playing off two feet, which helps balance and strength, and it creates more ways to score and create space. Thompson is very good at that – and here is Kneuppel, doing the same. He keeps balanced and under control, finishing on two feet:
Kon Knueppel has been open about Klay Thompson’s influence on his game, and this whole play is a good example of that mold. Footwork to reverse pivot into space and maintain balance for a middie, stays in the play after shot and waits for a second chance, mechanics consistent. pic.twitter.com/mGmxiYmXbt
— Austin Krell (@NBAKrell) June 4, 2025
And as an elite shooter himself, Kneuppel points out one of the things Thompson is able to do on a very high level that most players are not.
“He’s so efficient with his movements,” Kneuppel told Kevin O’Connor. “He’s shooting the ball the same, even though his feet aren’t facing the right way, his shoulders are.”
Here’s a good example:
Check the beautiful in-air turn as Klay, a righty, goes to his right on the catch and shoot. While it’s harder to make shots in this direction because the shooting hip and elbow aren’t naturally aligned, the in-air turn is crucial to get the proper alignment pic.twitter.com/ApWHyDPcKw
— BBALLBREAKDOWN (@bballbreakdown) February 23, 2024
And then there’s the two-way part. Kneuppel can’t stop gushing about Thompson’s defense, which he’d like to replicate:
“Just the way he used to defend when he was younger, before the injuries,” Kneuppel elaborates.
Kneuppel’s talk of wanting to model his game after Klay Thompson was noticed by the Dallas Mavericks vet, who made a video for the rookie.
“It makes me feel kinda old,” Thompson said in the video, as Kneuppel watches with a smile, “but also appreciative of great young athletes like yourself.”
“And I heard you aspire to be a two-way player and that’s something I prided myself on for a long time. I can still guard now! Don’t think my days of guarding are long gone,” Thompson responded to all the talk of how he used to guard.
“I can still get out there and switch on a point guard or four-man if I have to.”
Kneuppel had a message for Klay Thompson, as well:
“Tell him he’s the best off-ball mover. Ever. That he’s better than Steph. In my opinion,” Kneuppel said with a smile.
And he continued the praise, though still in the past tense: “People don’t realize how good of a defender he was.”
Thompson, who made NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2019, was an impressive two-way player before his injuries. Just watch this from 2020:
Klay Thompson is the best defensive guard in the nba pic.twitter.com/qCHIkUDxIL
— Antonin (@antonin_org) October 3, 2020
But as the elite and experienced shooter that Thompson is, he points out the one key skill it takes to be a consistently good shooter:
“Never lose that confidence that got you here. Especially when shooting the basketball.”