Golden State Warriors: Klay Thompson's durability is invaluable

Golden State Warriors: Klay Thompson’s durability is invaluable

MIAMI, FL - FEBRUARY 27: Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors handles the ball against the Miami Heat on February 27, 2019 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Klay Thompson’s shooting ability and defensive prowess is well-noted, but the Golden State Warriors truly appreciate his durability over the course of his career.

Klay Thompson missed two games with a knee injury and the impact was immediately felt as the Golden State Warriors narrowly escaped the Philadelphia 76ers and then were blown out on national television to the Boston Celtics.

Then, Thompson returned last Friday night against the second-seeded Denver Nuggets.

The result?

39 points, 13-22 FG including 9-11 from beyond the arc. A knee injury limited him to just two games missed, and when he came back it looked like he never missed a beat.

The Warriors cherish Klay Thompson’s shooting touch from almost anywhere on the court, they understand how valuable he is on the defensive end, almost always guarding the opposing team’s best player in the backcourt.

But sometimes what often goes overlooked is a trait of his that has proven to be invaluable: his durability.

Marcus Thompson of The Athletic made note of an incredible stat: since Thompson became a starter he’s missed just 23 games out of 685 games played in the regular season and the postseason (meaning he’s been on the court, ready to go, 96.6 percent of the time).

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