Was Klay Thompson Really That Good? A Data-Driven Look at His 2018–19 Peak

The Latecomer’s Question

I get it. You started watching around 2020 or later. All you saw were highlights of Klay Thompson draining impossible threes after injuries, with that iconic ‘splash’ sound effect looping in your head. But when someone says “he was unstoppable in 2018–19,” you’re left wondering: is this legend or myth?

I’ve spent years analyzing player efficiency using Python and Synergy Sports data — so let’s cut through the noise.

The Numbers Behind the Hype

In the 2018–19 season, Klay averaged 21.5 points per game, shot 44.7% from three, and played nearly 35 minutes per game — while being one of only three players to attempt over 500 threes that year.

But here’s where most people miss it: he wasn’t just shooting well — he was defending at an elite level too. His defensive win shares (DWS) ranked top 5 among guards that year.

He wasn’t a pure scorer like Steph Curry; he was a volume shooter with elite spacing, which is why teams struggled to guard him even when double-teamed.

The Real Story: Context Matters

That season, Golden State had two All-NBA players (Curry & Durant) and a third (Klay) who averaged over 20 PPG on 67% effective field goal percentage. That’s not sustainable — but it also wasn’t random.

His true shooting percentage (TS%) of 64.3% ranked in the top 6 among qualified guards — higher than James Harden or Luka Dončić that year.

And yes, his catch-and-shoot accuracy hit 47%, which still ranks among the best ever recorded by advanced metrics.

So no, this isn’t nostalgia talking — it’s regression analysis telling us something real happened in ’18–’19.

Why Fans Overlook It Now

You see flashes of him now — maybe from a highlight reel where he drops 37 on Brooklyn in five minutes — and think ‘that’s peak.’ But what people forget is that back then, he was playing with structural dominance:

• No major injuries,
• A superstar teammate operating at MVP level,
• And a system built around pick-and-roll + ball movement + spacing.

It wasn’t just about Klay being hot; it was about him being the perfect fit for an offensive machine.

We often confuse performance under ideal conditions with legacy alone — but data shows Klay didn’t just survive; he thrived within that environment.

Final Verdict: Elite Level – But What Kind?

The short answer? Yes, Klay Thompson reached elite status during his prime seasons — especially 2018–19. But what makes this era unique isn’t just scoring volume or shooting percentage… it’s how efficiently he did it while carrying defensive responsibility and team chemistry load.

He wasn’t merely ‘a shooter.’ He was an architect of spacing, rhythm, and pressure distribution across every possession.

If you’re new to basketball analytics or late to the party? Don’t believe everything you see on YouTube clips alone. The truth lies in patterns we can measure — not just moments we remember.

So next time someone asks if “Klay Thompson really peaked,” point them here: not just because he made shots, but because he made systems work.