Klay Thompson Names Toughest Players He’s Had to Guard in His Career

As a member of the Golden State Warriors, Klay Thompson has faced off against some of the NBA’s most elite talent on his way to four straight NBA Finals appearances.

On Tuesday, Thompson was asked to give his opinion on the toughest players he’s had to defend during his NBA career. While many players crossed his mind, one player stood out in particular.

“I’m happy I don’t have to check Kyrie [Irving] anymore that’s for sure, that guy is tough,” he said before naming several of the other top scorers in the league. “LeBron [James], Kobe [Bryant], James Harden, Russ Westbrook, Dame Lillard, Kyrie. We’re so blessed the league is full of so many great talents.”

Thompson’s words certainly put salt on a fairly fresh wound shared by all Cleveland Cavaliers fans. Out of the four straight NBA Finals that the Warriors and Cavaliers have met in, this season is the first time that Irving is not on the Cavs’ roster.

His talents were sorely missed throughout the 2017-18 regular season, and that has carried on throughout the playoffs. While the Cavs were famously able to come back from a 3-1 deficit to win the 2016 NBA Finals, it’s going to be very hard to dig themselves out of their current 0-2 hole without the All-Star point guard.

Considering the way the Boston Celtics nearly defeated the Cavs without both Irving and fellow All-Star Gordon Hayward in the Eastern Conference finals, it’s quite possible Thompson will be seeing Irving in the 2019 NBA Finals next season.