Klay Thompson finds himself on the bench for the first time in nearly a decade, only to respond with a stellar performance that stands as his best game of the season. This season for Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors has been quite unusual, to say the least. Thompson's shooting percentages this season have been lower than his career average, with a 41.5% field goal percentage and a 36.8% three-point percentage. 

Thompson's shooting efficiency issues sometimes put him out of favor during important games, leading to anger and caustic media replies. In a game last week, Thompson aired his dissatisfaction on the sideline and ignored Stephen Curry's advice.

Klay Thompson gets Benched

In a surprising move, Steve Kerr decided to bench Thompson for the game against the Utah Jazz on Thursday night. Thompson's recent game on the bench marked a significant change from his usual starting position, a departure from his early years in the league. Thompson appears to have been motivated by the move, possibly as intended by Kerr. Thompson's performance in the win against the Jazz was truly remarkable, as he scored an impressive 35 points coming off the bench. This is the highest number of points he has scored in a game this season.

Replacing Thompson was Brandin Podziemski, the Warriors' first round pick in the recent NBA Draft. Podziemski's playing time has significantly increased since the start of the season, showcasing his impressive versatility on the court.

Podziemski attended Santa Clara University for his college basketball career. After one season at Illinois, where he averaged 4.3 minutes per game as a freshman, he transferred to Santa Clara. His one and only season at Santa Clara was excellent, averaging 19.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.8 steals.
The Warriors made a wise decision by selecting him over players from more established basketball schools, and it's turning out to be a very astute move.

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