Golden State Warriors Make Shocking Lineup Change vs. Jazz

Warriors guard Klay Thompson has been moved to the bench

Despite his struggles this season, Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson has started all 49 games he has played in. That is changing on Thursday night vs. the Utah Jazz, as Thompson will come off the bench for the first time since 2012.

Thompson has been benched down the stretch of several games this season, but this will be the first time he begins a game on the bench. It seems Wednesday night's loss to the LA Clippers was the last of what Steve Kerr needed to see before making this decision. 

While Thompson off the bench seemed to be the move Golden State was trending towards, it's still a shocking development when considering the four-time champion has not come off the bench in over a decade. That said, the Warriors clearly feel this gives them the best chance to win, and Thompson did recently say on the record he is open to a smaller role in the future. 

Speaking with Logan Murdock of The Ringer, Thompson said recently there's nothing wrong with a reduced role down the line, adding, "I’ll be 35 next year. At 35, coming off the ACL and an Achilles [tear] and still have the ability to be a really good player. Maybe not the guy who scored 60 in three quarters and scored an NBA record 37 points in a quarter, but still a great threat out there. I’ve modeled my game after Reggie [Miller] and Ray [Allen], and those guys were incredibly effective until their late 30s. So I plan on kind of following that mold."

While this reduced role may have come quicker than Thompson anticipated, it's what Kerr feels is best for the team right now.

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