Klay Thompson climbs to 2nd all time in Finals 3-pointers with 104, trailing just Steph Curry (146).
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The evolution of the long ball and the Golden State Warriors’ recent dominance has made the 3-point shot a historically prominent part of the NBA Finals.
In Golden State’s 104-94 Game 5 victory over Boston on Monday, Klay Thompson punctuated that development with his 100th career 3-pointer in the Finals. Thompson joins teammate Stephen Curry and four-time NBA champion LeBron James as the only players in NBA history to make at least 100 3-pointers on the championship stage.
Congrats to @KlayThompson of the @warriors for moving up 2nd on the All-Time #NBAFinals 3-pointers made list! #NBA75 pic.twitter.com/K3OYFAPdQy
— NBA (@NBA) June 14, 2022
Thompson’s first 3-pointer of Game 5 was also the 1,000th postseason 3 made by him or Curry. The achievement highlights the duo, long nicknamed the “Splash Brothers,” and its long-distance dominance since making its playoff debut in 2013.
Thompson’s night of 3-point achievement came exactly three years after the five-time All-Star suffered a torn ACL in the 2019 NBA Finals against Toronto. The Warriors missed the playoffs the next two seasons, which Thompson missed while recovering from that injury and a torn Achilles tendon.
As ESPN Stats and Information noted, the Curry-Thompson combo entered Game 5 boasting a combined 999 3-pointers in their playoff careers. That total is more than nine active NBA franchises: the Charlotte Hornets, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, Sacramento Kings, Washington Wizards, Memphis Grizzlies, New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers.
Additionally, Curry added another accolade to his lengthy list of Finals ones in Game 5, too. He passed John Havlicek for 10th on the all-time Finals assists list.
Congrats to @StephenCurry30 of the @warriors for moving up to 10th on the All-Time #NBAFinals Assists list! #NBA75 pic.twitter.com/MMZ0ksacbC
— NBA (@NBA) June 14, 2022
(Earlier in Game 5, Warriors forward Draymond Green moved up to 7th on the all-time Finals assists list as well, passing Michael Jordan for that spot.)
Monday’s victory put Thompson, Curry and the Warriors one win away from their fourth championship in eight years.
