Since moving into the media space, Patrick Beverley hasn’t shied away from hyping his former teammates. Most recently, he argued that if Paul George had been on the Golden State Warriors instead of Klay Thompson, the Dubs would have won more titles over the past decade.
While the claim sounded compelling, another former player turned analyst, Robert Horry, quickly dismissed it, stressing that Klay was the perfect fit for the Warriors’ success and that no one could have replaced him.
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Horry believes Klay was irreplaceable
When analyzing the 2014-15 season, Klay earned a spot in the All-NBA Third Team after averaging 21.7 points per game across 77 appearances. PG13, on the other hand, featured in merely six games due to an injury in that campaign.
Moving to the 2016-17 season, Klay posted a then-career-high 22.3 points per game on 41.4 percent shooting from the three-point line across 78 games. While George averaged more points than Thompson that year, he needed more shot attempts and was less efficient from the field and beyond the arc.
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The following season, 2017-18, Thompson’s scoring dipped slightly, yet his efficiency from the field and long range improved. This was key because the Warriors had already acquired another ball-dominant scorer in Kevin Durant to share the load with Stephen Curry, thus it became vital for the four-time champ to have limited touches yet not drop his three-point shooting edge.
As Horry pointed out, that kind of adjustment would have been far less likely with George. Beyond that, Klay wasn’t just healthier than PG but even a better defender in the eyes of the former seven-time NBA champion.
“They might win less because this f—er going to get hurt. I don’t agree with that, and that is no diss to PG ’cause PG is a hell of a player.” Horry said on his podcast. “But, I just think when it comes to a fit, you gotta think about his game versus Klay’s game.”
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“Klay’s game is run to the corner, run to the three-point line and get that s–t up. That’s not Paul George’s game. Even though he can do that, he’s not as efficient as Klay… If you had to grab one as a defender, Klay Thompson was a better defender than Paul George in his prime,” he added.
Thompson is still superior to George
In this stage of his career, Klay is no longer the player who once helped power the Warriors’ dynasty, and his scoring production has dropped significantly. But his accountability and commitment to the team remain.
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Even during a disappointing 2024-25 season for the Dallas Mavericks, he still suited up for 72 games. Meanwhile, George only played 41 games for the Philadelphia 76ers. Even when the fans desperately urged someone to help Tyrese Maxey out on the court, PG disappointed and played like a shadow of himself.
That was exactly what Horry was getting at. George may have a deeper offensive bag than Thompson and in his prime was a bigger star. However, Klay’s team-first mindset and adaptability made him a better running mate for Curry and four championships prove that the Dubs were right when they paired them.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 28, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.