The NBA is a league of fascinating contrasts, but few are as stark — or as ironic — as the tale of Klay Thompson and his father, Mychal Thompson. One is a Golden State Warriors legend, a "Splash Brother" who revolutionized the 3-point shot. The other, a decorated NBA champion in his own right, boasts a career total of… one triple.
Key Points on NBA's One-Shot Wonders:
- Klay Thompson is fourth all-time in NBA 3-pointers made, a true pioneer of the modern game.
- His father, Mychal Thompson, a two-time champion, incredibly made just one 3-pointer in his 12-season career.
- Over 100 NBA players have recorded exactly one made 3-pointer in 82+ games, including Hall of Famers.
- The evolution of the 3-point shot has transformed player roles, especially for big men like Steven Adams and Ivica Zubac.
From Backyard Hoops to NBA Stardom: Klay's Shooting Roots
The story of Klay Thompson's legendary shot begins in a suburban Portland driveway. His father, Mychal, a formidable center in the 70s and 80s, watched his 8-year-old son effortlessly swish shots. Even then, Mychal saw the potential, famously telling Klay's mother that with that shot, he could be a Hall of Famer.
Klay absorbed his father's wisdom, meticulously practicing the fundamentals. This dedication eventually forged one of the greatest shooters in NBA history.
Since his Golden State Warriors debut in 2011, Klay has drained an astonishing 2,836 3-pointers, placing him fourth all-time behind only Stephen Curry, James Harden, and Ray Allen. His partnership with Curry as the "Splash Brothers" didn't just win four championships; it fundamentally altered the game.
Mychal Thompson: A Lone Triple in a Paint-Dominant Era
While Klay became the face of the 3-point revolution, Mychal Thompson's career unfolded in a vastly different NBA. Drafted in 1978, he was a dominant, back-to-the-basket center, playing for teams like the Portland Trail Blazers and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Big men were strictly commanded to stay in the paint; the 3-point line, introduced in 1979, was an afterthought for players of his stature. It wasn't until December 29, 1986, nearly a decade into his career, that Mychal Thompson etched his name into this peculiar piece of NBA history.
Playing for the San Antonio Spurs, he heaved a desperate buzzer-beater from just inside half-court in Sacramento. The improbable shot banked in, becoming his sole career 3-pointer out of only 12 attempts.
The Exclusive Club: NBA's Single 3-Pointer Wonders
Mychal Thompson isn't alone in this unique fraternity. Over 100 players in NBA history who have played at least 82 games have just one made 3-pointer.
The list is a fascinating mix of legendary bigs and role players, including Hall of Famers like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O'Neal, Jo Jo White, Artis Gilmore, and Dave Cowens.
Today, this quirky club still has active members. Centers like Steven Adams (now with the Houston Rockets), Ivica Zubac (formerly LA Clippers, now Indiana Pacers), Mark Williams (Charlotte Hornets), Nick Richards (formerly Phoenix Suns, now Chicago Bulls), and Trayce Jackson-Davis (formerly Warriors, now Toronto Raptors) each have one career triple. Their single long-range make often comes from necessity or a moment of wild abandon rather than design.
Memorable Moments from the One-Shot Club
These solitary triples often come with their own unforgettable tales.
- Trayce Jackson-Davis joined the club with a sensational 48-footer at the buzzer against the Miami Heat. The shot, made during a blowout win, left even Stephen Curry in stunned silence on the bench.
- Steven Adams' lone 3-pointer for the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2020 was a one-handed half-court heave that dropped clean. The hulking New Zealander celebrated with an uncharacteristic, yet delightful, Stephen Curry-esque shimmy. Adams remains steadfast in his role, prioritizing rebounding and defense over long-range shooting, noting, "A lot of my stuff is in the trenches, man."
- Ivica Zubac's single triple was a deliberate play called by then-Clippers coach Tyronn Lue to get him a shot during a shortened 2020-21 season. Zubac calmly drained an open look from the top of the key, a testament to the evolving expectations for big men.
The Ever-Changing Game: From Anomaly to Expectation
The NBA's landscape has dramatically shifted since Mychal Thompson's playing days. His son Klay, alongside Stephen Curry, was instrumental in this transformation.
The 2015-16 Warriors set an NBA record for 3-pointers made (since broken), a benchmark that now seems almost quaint. Today, 28 out of 30 teams average more 3-point attempts per game than those record-breaking Warriors.
Modern analytics demand that even centers develop a long-range game, as seen with players like Brook Lopez, who made just three triples in his first eight seasons before becoming a prolific 3-point shooter. Players like Mark Williams and Moussa Diabaté (who recently escaped the one-shot club with a second triple) understand this pressure.
While Mychal Thompson never got the chance to expand his shooting, Klay Thompson's journey from a Portland driveway to an NBA icon proves that one family, in two vastly different eras, has profoundly shaped the league's relationship with the 3-point shot.
