A Royal Pain
Fansided

5 All-Stars the Sacramento Kings painfully passed on in the NBA Draft

By Eric Fritts

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 28: Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors shoots during the first quarter at Chase Center on March 28, 2023 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Loren Elliott/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 28: Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors shoots during the first quarter at Chase Center on March 28, 2023 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Loren Elliott/Getty Images) /
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Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

3. Klay Thompson – 2011

Looking again at 2011, it really wasn’t the Kings’ year to pass on guards. With hindsight, this one looks really bad but it’s important to keep in mind no one foresaw Klay becoming what he is today, although the signs were there. His shooting was no secret coming into the league and his size playing the two guard was a definite defensive upside. The switching defenses we see today were a direct result of his, along with Draymond Green’s, abilities and contributions to the Golden State scheme of the mid 2010s.

This is actually another great ‘what if’ pairing for Boogie. Cousins operating as he did from all over would give Klay the openings he needed to be deadly, especially because he didn’t need much of one to be effective. Still, most are skeptical Klay would be what he is today if not for the perfect situation he found in the Bay next to Steph Curry. Even so, he grew up around the game and would have found a way to be successful in Sacramento one way or another. His, shooting, defensive prominence, and unorthodox personality would have been a great fit.

Overall though it’s hard to be too hard on the Kings for missing this one because absolutely no one saw this kind of potential. NBADraft.net gave him the comparison of Marco Belinelli, a player he has far and away surpassed.

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