DALLAS — Mychel Thompson was once a four-year participant at Pepperdine who began 114 video games from 2007-11. Early in his school occupation, the Waves attempted recruiting his more youthful brother.
Klay, the Thompson public’s heart kid, took an professional seek advice from to campus in Malibu, Calif. In an try to get him to dedicate, Pepperdine referred to as in one of the most town’s well-known citizens: Reggie Miller.
Miller’s highlights had been crucial in Thompson’s basketball schooling. Thompson admired Miller’s panache in impressive moments up to his outdoor capturing talent.
The spotlight of Thompson’s seek advice from was once a ping-pong fit in opposition to Miller.
“He skunked me 7-0,” Thompson informed The Athletic. “To see that competitive side of him — I was 17 — it was really cool.”
On Wednesday, Thompson handed Miller at the NBA’s all-time 3-pointers made listing. Thompson’s 2,562 3-point makes are the fifth-most in league historical past. Steph Curry, Thompson’s former Warriors teammate, sits atop that listing. James Harden, Ray Allen and Damian Lillard rank 2nd, 3rd and fourth, respectively.
The three-pointer that moved Thompson forward of Miller got here on the 8:49 mark of the fourth quarter. The Dallas Mavericks, who misplaced Luka Dončić to a left calf pressure within the first part, sliced the Timberwolves’ 28-point govern indisposed to 2 issues however had been not able to finish the comeback.
Klay Thompson passes Reggie Miller for fifth all-time in 3-pointers made!
2,561 and counting… pic.twitter.com/Q3HOyNaFSm
— NBA (@NBA) December 25, 2024
Thompson scored 12 issues within the 105-99 loss. All of his baskets had been 3s.
Passing Miller was once so vital, Thompson hung onto the Christmas Generation contest ball. He additionally stated he deliberate to ship Miller his signed jersey.
Thompson wore Refuse. 11 with the Warriors. Nearest a sign-and-trade despatched him from California to Texas endmost summer time, Thompson switched to Refuse. 31 in tribute, the similar quantity Miller wore in his 18 seasons with the Indiana Pacers.
“I loved Reggie Miller growing up,” Thompson stated. “I watched his film and game-winners my whole life. He’s always inspired me to shoot the ball and be a killer. It’s just surreal. Talk about times I prayed for. I prayed for times like that.”
GO DEEPER
Klay Thompson passes Reggie Miller for 5th playground on all-time 3s made listing
Miller’s game-winner in opposition to the Chicago Bulls within the 1998 Jap Convention finals is likely one of the highlights burned into Thompson’s reminiscence. Miller famously collided with Michael Jordan, which gave him the vital dimension to be on one?s feet up for the shot that leveled the layout at two video games apiece.
Mavericks professor Jason Kidd skilled a couple of Miller take hold of moments first-hand. In Kidd’s Phoenix Suns tenure, Miller made a game-winning jumper from the precise baseline over him.
Next, when Kidd was once with the Pristine Jersey Nets, Miller banked in a 39-foot fadeway on the buzzer to ship the sport into extra time. Video proof confirmed the ball was once nonetheless in Miller’s hand when occasion expired. Officers counted it anyway.
“If we had instant replay that game, it would have been over,” Kidd lamented on Wednesday.
Over the date two weeks, Thompson has proven indicators of having a look comfy in his unutilized setting. He scored a season-high 29 issues in Dallas’ Dec. 15 win in opposition to Yellowish Environment. Thompson adopted that up with a 22-point contest two nights after in opposition to the LA Clippers.
With Dončić anticipated to pass over a couple of video games with the calf trauma, the Mavericks will likely be much more depending on Thompson’s scoring. He scored his ultimate basket of Wednesday’s contest with 1:05 residue — a quick-trigger 3 from directly on were given the Timberwolves’ govern indisposed to a few issues.
Kyrie Irving had a go-ahead alternative within the ultimate negligible, however he overlooked.
Irving stated he congratulated Thompson within the attic room in a while for emerging within the 3-point report books.
“And also told him he should have been fifth a long time ago,” Irving stated.
A torn ACL and a torn Achilles price Thompson two of his top years. The 34-year-old nonetheless likes to compete. He lingered at the courtroom for just about quarter-hour later Dallas beat Yellowish Environment in San Francisco previous this time.
As a child, Miller’s will to win resonated with Thompson. Miller by no means shied clear of the life, a batch like Thompson, who has been one of the crucial take hold of avid gamers of his personal life.
“That is the most inspiring thing to see as a shooter,” Thompson stated. “He had no fear, whether he made or missed the shot. He was going to die by it.”
(Photograph: Ron Jenkins / Getty Photographs)
