The game was over…..
Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals…
The Thunder were going to NBA Finals….
They were up 8 at home, with Steph Curry and the Warriors struggling and on the ropes, it looked like their 73-win season would end in Oklahoma City…
Then it happened…..
Klay Thompson is that type of friend that is always chilling, but when you are really in a pinch he will always come through for you, no matter what he has done beforehand.
The Warriors were in a pinch and he bailed them out, but it was much bigger than that. By bailing them out with his 41 point, 11 three pointers game, he essentially changed NBA history.
It is always fun to play the “what if” game, but in this case one thing is very clear.
If Klay misses that 30 feet three pointer when the Thunder were up 96-89 with 5 minutes to go, Kevin Durant never signs with the Warriors.
If Thunder goes to Finals, the Warriors don’t blow a 3-1 lead further strengthen Durant’s reasoning for jumping ship.
In the end, Klay has changed the potential legacies of so many players and NBA history. The effects we won’t truly know for years to come, but Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, Steph Curry and others more subtly like James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin will be different.
The first domino will fall over the next couple of weeks. Kevin Durant took a risk, it is was a push all the chips in the middle of the table type of risk. It is one he wouldn’t have taken if Thunder had made Finals last season.
If Warriors win title, it will all work out, if not well the Memes won’t be kind.
Ironically the person least affected by Klay Thompson’s legendary performance is Klay Thompson, since he isn’t held at the same standard as a Steph Curry or LeBron James.
But, when they are talking about this trilogy and rivalry years from now, don’t forget the person who changed everything just by going YOLO…
Flip the page for video of Klay’s 41 point performance in Game 6.