Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are the son of former NBA player Dell Curry and his wife Sonya. They played together at Davidson College and won three national championships during their career there. In 2012, the brothers signed contracts worth $44 million each over four seasons. In 2013, they both became members of the NBA All-Star Game.
The Splash Brothers are considered among the best shooting duos in NBA history. Their success has been attributed to their ability to read defenses, work off screens, and make timely passes. They often run pick-and-roll plays, where either Curry or Thompson isolates against a defender while the other runs down the middle. This allows them to find open teammates without having to rely on isolation shots.
In addition to their scoring abilities, the brothers excel defensively due to their quick reactions and excellent ball handling skills. Both are capable of guarding multiple positions, including small forwards and power forwards.
Curry and Thompson are known for their rivalry with the Oklahoma City Thunder, whom they defeated in five consecutive games in the Western Conference Finals in 2016. During those playoffs, Curry averaged 35 points per game, leading him to become the first unanimous MVP since Michael Jordan in 1996.
Who are the splash brothers? Origin of the nickname – AS USA
In 2008, Stephen Curry became the youngest player ever to win MVP honors in the NBA. He did it while shooting 47 percent from beyond the arc. In 2009, he led Golden State to the Western Conference Finals. And in 2010, he won his second consecutive MVP award.
That same season, the Warriors drafted another shooter out of Washington State University named Klay Thompson. After playing just eight games during the 2011-12 season due to injury, Thompson emerged as a force on the offensive end. He averaged 16 points per game and shot 38 percent from 3-point range.
The following season, both players continued to improve, leading the league in scoring and becoming the first pair of teammates since Oscar Robertson and Jerry West in 1961 to average over 30 points per game each. They went on to lead the team to a 73-9 record and the franchise’s third championship.
Thompson and Curry were dubbed “the Splash Brothers,” and the nickname stuck.
Why are Curry and Thompson called the Splash Brothers?
When Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson combine to make a shot, there is a distinct sound you hear. You’ve probably heard it yourself. And if you haven’t, well, here’s your chance.
The Splash Brothers’ signature move is a play where Curry and Thompson both shoot threes while moving towards the basket. When they meet each other, they collide into the net, creating a loud “splat.”
NBA fans quickly adopted the nickname, dubbing the Splash Brothers the Splash Brothers. But why do they call them that?
According to ESPN’s Stats & Information Group, the Splash Brothers have made more than 1,000 combined 3-pointers this season. That’s an average of about one every two minutes.
They also rank fourth in the NBA in total 3-pointers attempted (1,721) and eighth in 3-point percentage (.439).
How did the Splash Brothers get their name?
Stephen Curry and Klay Thomas are known for making spectacular dunks and layups. So when they started combining for 3-pointers, people noticed.
During the 2015-16 regular season, the duo connected on 547 3-pointers, which was good enough for fifth most in the league.
But it wasn’t until the playoffs began that the Splash Brothers really got going.
On April 13, 2016, the Splash Brothers played against the Memphis Grizzlies at Oracle Arena. The Warriors trailed by three points with less than 10 seconds left in regulation.
Curry dribbled up court and passed to Thompson, who then launched a long 3-pointer that swished through the net. It gave the Warriors a four point lead, but the Grizzlies tied the score with a free throw.
After the game, Curry told reporters: “I think we’re gonna be calling ourselves the Splash Brothers now.”
And so the Splash Brothers moniker took off.
What does the nickname mean?
The Splash Brothers aren’t the only basketball stars who share a similar look. There are plenty of other pairs of twins or brothers who have been nicknamed after their looks.
In fact, some of these nicknames go back decades. For example, Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen were often referred to as the Dynamic Duo because they looked like identical twins.
Other famous pairs include Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, and Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
So what makes the Splash Brothers different?
For starters, the Splash Brothers are not actually related. In fact, they don’t even know each other.
Klay Thompson is from Washington state, while Steph Curry hails from Davidson, North Carolina.
“We just kind of met in Golden State,” Curry said. “It’s funny how things work out sometimes.”
Another big difference between the Splash Brothers and many other pairs of twin or brother athletes is that they are very different players.
While Curry and Thompson can make plays together, they rarely take turns shooting. They usually alternate shots. And when they do, they tend to make the same type of shot — either a mid-range jumper or a 3-pointer.
This has led to speculation that the Splash Brothers might eventually become teammates.
“You never know,” Curry said. “If I’m still playing here next year, I’d love to play with him.”
Who’s A Better Three-Point Shooter: Stephen Curry Or Klay Thompson?
This is a toughie. Both players are phenomenal shooters. They both shoot over 40% from deep. But there are some key differences between them. For starters, Curry shoots primarily from midrange while Thompson mostly takes threes. Secondly, Curry has always been known for being able to make difficult shots. And finally, Curry is a much better passer than Thompson. So it’s easy to see why people think Curry is the superior shooter.
But here’s where things start getting complicated. You’ve got to factor in the fact that Curry is a great defender. His length allows him to guard multiple positions. Plus, he’s very quick and agile. This makes him extremely effective defending against pick-and-roll plays. In contrast, Thompson isn’t nearly as good defensively. He struggles to keep up with guards in transition. And he’s slower than Curry. These factors limit how well he defends ball screens.
So what about defense? Well, Curry is a better rebounder than Thompson. Because of his size, he’s able to grab rebounds at the rim as well as on the perimeter. Thompson, on the other hand, is smaller and weaker than Curry. So he’s less likely to block shots. If you’re looking for pure offense, then Curry wins out. But if you want to win games, you need to consider defense too.
How Long Have The Splash Brothers Been Teammates?
Steph Curry and Klay Thompson are arguably the best shooting duo in the history of basketball. After spending most of his career playing alongside Stephen Jackson, Thompson joined the Warriors in 2011 and Curry followed him shortly thereafter. Together, they won three consecutive championships from 2013 to 2016.
Curry and Thompson have been teammates with Team USA since 2012, where they helped lead the team to gold medals in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup and the 2015 Pan American Games. In those events, they became the first pair of teammates to win gold medals in the same event since 1975, when Jerry West and Oscar Robertson did so together in the ’76 Olympics.
They’re also the first pair of teammates since 1972 to start at guard in the NBA All-Star Game.
