clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Klay Thompson brings WSU Cougars back-to-back NBA championships

In 2014 it was Aron Baynes. In 2015 it is Klay Thompson.

Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

He didn't have the greatest series, but Klay Thompson is an NBA champion.

Thompson started all six games, playing an average of 38 minutes a game. He was questionable heading into the series after suffering a nasty looking shot to the head in the final game of the Western Conference Finals. But, thanks in part to a week long break, Thompson cleared concussion tests and was ready to go for game one. He scored an average of 16 points in the Finals, below his regular season average of 21.7. He also fouled out of Tuesdays game in the 4th with only 5 points.

But, despite what the box score says, his teammates say that he's doing a lot more than what his stats show. "He creates shots for others just by his presence on the floor," Stephan Curry told the Bay Area News Group. "You have to choose your poison, basically, of who you’re going to rotate off of... All those guys found themselves wide open because of Klay’s presence on the floor."

The Warriors beat the Cavs 105-97 in game 6 of the NBA Finals Tuesday night. It was the first title for Golden State in 40 years, but for Washington State alumni, it was the second in two years.

Last year, Aron Baynes was (what I would biased-ly call) the catalyst of a Spurs team that took down LeBron James and the Heat in 5 games. Baynes played 7 minutes in 3 games of the 2014 finals and was perfect from both the field and the free throw line (2 of 2 in each category). The good news is that he didn't commit any fouls. And, unlike in most games, this wasn't just in his opinion. After the series, he and Patty Mills took the trophy home to Australia and literally got shoved off of a live TV broadcast.

Some of my fondest sports memories came from watching WSU teams led by these two. It truly is an honor to see them make a "splash" on the world wide stage.

08-09 team photo - wsu comm

(Credit: WSU Athletic Communications)

Remember these guys? Well 2 of them are now NBA champions. Which one of them is next? My money is on Caleb Forrest.

Klay Thompson

N.B.A. Finals 2015: Drought Ends in Style as Warriors Win Title Over Cavaliers - The New York Times
Golden State won its first N.B.A. championship since 1975 and denied LeBron James a title with Cleveland.

Report: Jerry West threatened to resign if Warriors traded Klay Thompson for Kevin Love | ProBasketballTalk
West saw what this team could be with Klay Thompson (as did Steve Kerr).

Baseball

Pistorese assigned to AquaSox - Daily Inter Lake: Members
Former Cougar pitcher Joe Pistorese has been assigned to the Everett AquaSox of the Northwest League, the short-season Class A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners.