Although Klay Thompson struggled with his shooting in the Warriors’ 108-104 loss to the Phoenix Suns at Chase Center on Tuesday, his defensive performance against Suns superstar and former Warriors forward Kevin Durant earned praise from Golden State coach Steve Kerr.

In 36 minutes of play, Thompson managed to score 15 points but only shot 6-of-18 from the field, with three successful 3-pointers out of 11 attempts.

Kerr acknowledged Thompson’s defensive prowess, saying, “I thought Klay was great. He did his utmost to make things challenging for Kevin. When Durant rises up and releases the ball well above his head, there’s not much you can contest. So, you have to try to disrupt his rhythm early, and I believe Klay achieved that.”

Despite Durant’s reputation as a four-time NBA scoring champion, he finished the game with 18 points, a notably lower figure than his career average of 27.3 points per game. Thompson’s defensive efforts played a significant role in limiting Durant’s effectiveness, as Durant shot a modest 31.8 percent from the field during the game, showcasing Thompson’s ability to impede his offensive output.

Klay Thompson assumed the primary role of defending his former teammate, Kevin Durant, and effectively prevented Durant from establishing a perimeter presence throughout the game. Durant’s limited attempts from beyond the arc, with only two 3-pointers during the entire game, prompted praise from Steve Kerr for Thompson’s off-ball defensive pressure.

Kerr acknowledged Thompson’s physical and proactive approach off the ball, describing how he sought to disrupt Durant’s comfort zones. While Durant missed some shots that he typically makes, Kerr commended Klay for his consistently strong defensive performance.

Thompson’s defensive excellence compensated for his challenging night in terms of scoring. Despite a subpar shooting performance, the four-time NBA champion proved instrumental, leading Golden State’s starting five with a plus-9 rating—a noteworthy statistic in a game where the Warriors suffered a four-point loss.

Even though Golden State commenced the season with a 0-1 record, Kerr recognized a promising aspect in Thompson’s defensive capabilities. Defending one of the NBA’s premier scorers in Durant is no easy feat, but Thompson demonstrated his defensive prowess admirably.

As the veteran player aims to secure a contract in anticipation of free agency in 2024, it is highly likely that Thompson will persist in making significant contributions on both ends of the court.