Iman Shumpert Reflects on Warriors-Cavaliers
Earlier this week, former Cavaliers guard, NBA champion, and now “Dancing With the Stars” champion Iman Shumpert went on the Bootleg Kev podcast with hip hop DJ Bootleg Kev to discuss a variety of basketball-related topics. Shumpert, a veteran swingman who’s calling card was mostly on the defensive side for his career, dished specifically on his view on the Golden State Warriors, then versus now.
“I didn’t like ‘em” Shump said on the pod. “I’m a huge fan of all of ‘em now… you hate to play against Draymond, but like, it’s really hard not to like dude.”
Shumpert, present for all four-straight Finals matchups between the Warriors and Cavaliers, went on to praise Green’s work ethic and how he carries himself on the court, citing his “say it with your chest” nature and how he wouldn’t back down from a challenge.
The NBA vet also talked at length about Warriors guard Klay Thompson, specifically how he compared to the other off-ball shooters Shump has guarded through his career. He had some high praise for Thompson, even if it was at the expense of guys like Kyle Korver and JJ Reddick.
“All of ‘em push off, get mad… Klay Thompson does not complain to the refs” Shumpert recalled. “You hold him, that man just chops your wrist down so fast. I was like bro, I love this young lightskin brother!”
Thompson has a bit of a similar reputation of being stone-faced around the league, a reputation he was able to upkeep until his time off endeared him more to the NBA fanbase. It’s pretty true when Shumpert’s saying too, and you can see it when you look back: Klay Thompson has rarely been somebody to start going off on the refs the same way other stars do.
And what would a former Cavs player’s interview be without a couple words on Stephen Curry? While Shumpert asserts that the Warriors ruined the version of basketball that he liked (he was very specific to not say they ruined the game as a whole, which is very respectable for an old rival), he talked candidly about some of the problems the Cavs faced.
“I told Swish [(J.R. Smith)], if he wanna shoot that s*** from 40, let him shoot that s*** from 40! That’s how we felt about it… until [Steph] started making ‘em.”
It seems Curry’s fully embraced the feelings he perforated through his NBA competitors as well, with Under Armor running a #RuinTheGame campaign before he officially had his own brand.
While it may not sound it initially, this kind of credit to the Warriors is rooted out of respect. This team has been so good and the franchise so well-run that it’s effectively changed the course of basketball forever. We’ve moved on from the back-down, post-fade days and into a time where the game is played all the way inside-out. Shumpert, while he may not agree with it, has certainly recognized that as a fan now that he’s no longer playing.
(Photo credit: NBAE / Getty Images)