Warriors Wonder: Should Klay Thompson be a 2019 All-Star?

Klay destroyed the Lakers in historic fashion, but will it be enough to convince people he should be an All-Star again?

Klay Thompson went beserk in front of all the stars in Staples Center last night, dropping 44 points on the Los Angeles Lakers with luminaries such as Snoop Dogg, Floyd Mayweather, Jack Nicholson, and the sidelined LeBron James.

This next stat from ESPN Stats & Information research almost made my nose bleed: Thompson’s effective field goal percentage of 1.100 on Monday night is the best mark in a game in NBA history with a minimum of 15 field goal attempts.

He now also is the only man in NBA history to score 44 or more points in 27 or less minutes (this is his second time after the 52 point barrage against Chicago earlier this season).

This preposterous performance fits well with his scorching hot 2019 numbers.

Is he an All-Star though?

In light of a relatively slumpish start to the season, was this performance enough to get him serious consideration for his fifth All-Star game? Right now he’s ranked 18th in points per game at 22.1, averaging a career high 18.7 shots per game, but shooting a career low 38% from downtown. He’s still an excellent defender when engaged, and usually hunts down the opponent’s best scoring guard. What do we make of this sniper’s season in regards to All-Star voting?

Zach Lowe broke down his All-Star picks for ESPN and doesn’t see Thompson making it, explaining: “Too much of Thompson’s production was isolated to four or five games.”

Brad Botkin of CBS Sports had some thoughts:

Do we have to start talking about him again as a potential All-Star? I don’t think he gets in. LeBron James will take a Western slot that was available last year. Presumably, Nikola Jokic will too, while Luka Doncic’s fan vote could well push him into a spot. Without the fan vote (Thompson was fifth among West guards in the most recently released returns, with Doncic second in the West frontcourt), Doncic vs. Thompson would be a very interesting debate.

It could be a close call for the man right behind teammate Steph Curry in the “greatest shooter alive” chase. Make sure to vote Klay in for the All-Star game!