Much of the offseason talk surrounding the Golden State Warriors leans on the return of guard Klay Thompson, after his ruptured Achilles tendon just before the 2020-21 campaign.
But it’s not a given that Thompson, one of the Warriors’ core-three championship players, along with superstar guard Stephen Curry and forward Draymond Green, will be ready to go when the rest of his team is.
General manager Bob Myers told reporters on Monday that Thompson’s return might not happen by the start of the season, and when he does come back, it could take some time for him to play to the level he’s accustomed to.
“I don’t know if it will be at the start of the year,” Bob Myers said of Thompson’s return, during Monday’s exit interviews. “We’ll know more as camp gets closer. When I say ‘the start the year,’ I mean Game 1. I don’t know if that’s realistic or not. …
“What we’re focused on is when Klay will be Klay, and I don’t know if that will be January, February or March. It’s too early to say.”
San Francisco Chronicle
It’s wise to temper early expectations for Thompson. He also tore his ACL in the 2019 NBA Finals and has missed two full Warriors seasons.
But the Warriors also desperately need Thompson to resume his All-Star level of play, especially from the perimeter, on offense and defense. Time will tell how much his injuries will impact the rest of his career, especially his agility in defending, but his world-class 3-point shot is needed in a hurry to pair with Curry.
Patience is needed, however. Myers set the tone. But whenever Thompson does return, it will be a welcome sight for the entire NBA.
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