(KRON) -- Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson is not in the team's starting lineup for its Thursday night game against the Utah Jazz, the Warriors announced. Thompson has not entered a game off the bench since March 2012, when he was a rookie.
Thompson responded to his new role with a 35-point outburst as
The five-time All-Star has posted career lows in field goal percentage and 3-point percentage this season. His 17 points per game is his lowest since his second year in the league.
Rookie Brandin Podziemski took Thompson's place in the starting lineup. He started alongside Stephen Curry, Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga and Draymond Green.
Thompson scored 12 points and made just four of his 14 field goal attempts in a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers Wednesday night. He scored five points against Phoenix on Saturday and eight points in Brooklyn last week.
Thompson was benched for the end of the game against the Nets. He admitted it was difficult to go from a one-time surefire All-Star to a player who does not close every game.
The Warriors entered Thursday 1.5 games ahead of the Jazz for the Western Conference's final play-in spot. Thursday's game is the Warriors' final game before the All-Star break.