Klay Thompson was a key member of three Golden State Warriors championship teams, but the star shooting guard hasn’t played in the NBA in years.
Thompson tore his ACL in the 2019 NBA Finals Game 6 and hasn’t played since. That’s just one of the horrific injuries he sustained while attempting to return to duty.
Thompson would return to the Warriors at some point during the 2021-2022 season, the Warriors knew. They just didn’t know when. Thompson’s impending return looms over the rest of the championship picture as the Warriors have gotten off to the best start in the NBA.
To begin the season, Golden State won 18 of its first 20 games. Stephen Curry is the favorite to win the MVP award. Draymond Green is a legitimate Defensive Player of the Year candidate. The depth has increased as a result of the seasoned acquisitions of Nemanja Bjelica and Otto Porter Jr., as well as Jordan Poole and Gary Payton II’s improvement. The Phoenix Suns are currently the only team in the NBA that can compete with the Warriors. It’s terrifying to imagine what they’ll be like if Thompson returns.
Why has Thompson been missing for such a long time? When will he return? When he eventually returns, how will the Warriors look? Let’s take a look at the other Splash Brother’s much anticipated return to the floor.
The NBA Finals were overshadowed by Klay Thompson’s injured ACL.
The Warriors were big favorites to win the 2019 NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors, but injuries ruined their hopes of completing a three-peat. Kevin Durant injured his right calf in the Western Conference semifinals against the Houston Rockets, and he didn’t play in the Finals until Game 5. KD went on a scoring frenzy in Game 5, but he tore his Achilles tendon, forcing him to miss the rest of the series and the entire following season after signing with the Brooklyn Nets.
Thompson was injured in the third quarter of Game 6 of the series, with the game on the line. Klay’s left knee was diagnosed with a torn ACL. He hasn’t appeared in court since the incident on June 13, 2019.
Klay Thompson tore his Achilles tendon while recovering from an ACL tear.
Thompson missed the entirety of the 2019-2020 season while rehabbing his torn ACL. Curry suffered a season-ending hand injury only five games into the season and missed the rest of the year. The Warriors finished 15-50 and “earned” the No. 2 overall pick in the NBA draft, where they selected center James Wiseman.
There was optimism that the Warriors could be a contender again in 2020-2021 with the Splash Brothers set to return. It never happened: On Nov. 18, 2020, Thompson tore his right Achilles during a workout. He suffered the injury while taking a pull-up jumper.
The Warriors finished 39-33 in 2020-2021, but lost to the Lakers and Grizzlies in the inaugural play-in tournament and failed to qualify for the playoffs. Thompson has been rehabbing his Achilles ever since.
When will Klay Thompson return for the Warriors?
The Warriors still don’t have a target date for Thompson’s return, but at this point it’s seemingly only a matter of weeks.
Thompson was cleared to fully practice with the Warriors on Nov. 23. He’s been playing 5-on-5. During an Instagram live chat on Dec. 3, Thompson said his return could be in a few weeks or a month.
Thompson also posted this message to Warriors on Instagram regarding his return.
The Warriors face the Phoenix Suns on Christmas day in the battle of the two best teams in the NBA so far. Will Thompson — who turns 32 years old in Feb. — be back for that game? We can only hope.
Whether Thompson is back for Christmas, or his return comes slightly after, we know the Warriors star will be returning soon. A league-best Golden State team is about to get even better.
