The Golden State Warriors don’t expect Klay Thompson back anytime soon, but he does plan to return at some point in 2020.
Making the playoffs is the goal for the Klay Thompson-less Golden State Warriors. Thompson, a staple of the team for the last several seasons, has developed into one of the league’s most impactful players on both sides of the court.
For Golden State, he was the team’s second option offensively prior to the arrival of Kevin Durant. He shifted back to the third option and still notched over 20 points per game, helping lead one of the best three-point shooting teams in the league.
With Durant out, Thompson was erupting in the first three quarters of Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals. After being challenged on a dunk by Danny Green and coming down awkwardly, Klay Thompson hobbled back to the locker room.
It was later revealed that Thompson suffered from a torn ACL, an injury that’ll keep him out for the foreseeable future. However, the five-time All-Star did give us a timeline as he’s planning to return post-All-Star break.
Thompson noted when talking with LA Times reporter Arash Markazi that he plans to be play at some point during the 2019-2020 season.
“That’s my goal,” Thompson said. “I doubt I’ll be back before the All-Star break, but I want to be back this season.”
Thompson didn’t stop there though. He also noted that he will come back at 110%, which, following an injury of that magnitude, is great to hear. Thompson’s spirits and rehab process seem to be going as planned.
Never relying heavily on his athleticism, Thompson’s ability to shoot from deep makes him a valuable asset. As crazy as it sounds, Thompson has shot over 40% in all eight of his professional seasons.
That said, even if he’s not 110%, he should still be able to contribute at a high rate for this offense that’s a big question mark entering the new season.