Steph Curry was ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Utah Jazz with an ankle injury.

In the recent episode of his podcast, “The Big Podcast with Shaq,” Shaquille O’Neal gave his thoughts on the teams that stand a chance in the upcoming playoffs. With the Golden State Warriors as his right away choice, he believes they stand a chance due to the influence of one player. Surprisingly, it isn’t Steph Curry, but Klay Thompson.

The Warriors have clinched a place in the postseason after finishing 10th, and with the play-in tournament starting next week, Shaq is confident that Klay Thompson is the man for the job. Despite most fans expecting Curry to be the team’s engine, Shaq towed a unique line.

But it’s not him (Curry), Klay Thompson. For a guy like that, all it needs is two games…Right now, everybody’s killing him, ‘Oh, you’re coming off the bench, you lost it, you lost it’. He’s still playing. All it takes is one of those games where his elbow is tucked in, and he’s feeling it, and everybody’s counting them out.

Shaquille O’Neal said

Klay Thompson has been effective this season both as a starter and as the sixth man, and with his experience, he is, according to O’Neal, the Dub’s best chance of making a deep run in the playoffs. This season, he has banished his injury demons by featuring in 74 out of 78 games, averaging 17.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game.

Furthermore, besides the Warriors needing Thompson, they also need Draymond Green to avoid more disciplinary issues, and outside the arc specialist, Steph Curry. However, it’s not as easy as it seems in a league that has become more competitive.

Klay Thompson steps up again as Steph Curry misses the regular season finale game for the Warriors ahead of playoffs

Steph Curry was ruled out of tonight’s game against the Utah Jazz with an ankle injury. As an apparent sign to show his worth, Klay Thompson led the players’ stats with 25 points, three rebounds and three assists.

Thompson also made history for the Warriors on Sunday, setting two franchise records in their 123-116 win against the Jazz in the regular-season finale. Thompson’s scoring output against Utah increased his season total to 118 points against the Jazz, surpassing World B. Free’s record of 115 points in a four-game season series set in 1980-81.

Additionally, his six 3-pointers against the Jazz brought his season total to 22, surpassing the previous record he shared with Curry by five. All Klay Thompson proved was that he could step up in the absence of Curry in moments like this.

Despite the victory, the Warriors (46-36) remained in 10th place in the Western Conference standings. They needed either the New Orleans Pelicans or Portland Trail Blazers to lose to avoid the final play-in position, but both teams won their games. Consequently, the Los Angeles Lakers secured the No. 8 seed, while the Sacramento Kings claimed the No. 9 seed with a tie-breaker advantage over the Warriors.

Now, Golden State is set to face the Kings in an elimination game on Tuesday to begin the Western play-in event.