‘I can catch him’… Golden State Warriors draft pick Alex Toohey made bold Klay Thompson claim

Alex Toohey has high ambitions

Alex Toohey played in Australia for the Sydney Kings, and the 21-year-old has big hopes of making it in the NBA.

He spent time in the US ahead of the Draft, working out and taking part in the NBA Combine.

And this even led to him crossing paths with Golden State Warriors legend Klay Thompson, now on the Dallas Mavericks.

Toohey made a bold proclamation, speaking to ESPN ahead of the draft, where he claimed he wanted to catch up with the former Warriors superstar.

Toohey said: “Klay Thompson coming into the gym was super cool for me to see. I kind of have that little checkpoint of seeing where he’s at, where I’m at; things that he’s better at and areas I think I can definitely catch him.

“He’s someone I idolised growing up. His ability to score off the dribble but, more effectively, he can score without having the ball in his hands.

“That’s an area that, when I get to the NBA, will be a key role for me.”

Toohey accepts he will be a role player at first

Toohey knows he must be able to get into good positions to create and shoot is important because he will not enter the NBA in a starting role.

He said: “I’m probably not gonna have the ball in my hands to be much of a creator, because every team has those star players, so being able to fill that role and be able to help the team and be efficient with what I’ve got.”

Toohey has landed on a team with an incredible superstar, Stephen Curry, along with the likes of Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler.

The Australian rookie must earn their respect first, and if he is anywhere near Klay Thompson in terms of his attitude and ability, he will stand a great chance.