Just months after being allowed back in the court, Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson plans to play in the 2020 Olympics.
Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson plans to play in the 2020 Olympics.
This is coming just weeks after Team USA’s embarrassment at the FIBA World Cup. Not only was a win-streak that was nearing 60 games broken, but the team didn’t even place top-three in the competition.
That’s woken up numerous athletes that’ve been born and raised in the US. Two-time MVP and Thompson current teammate Stephen Curry was one of them. After a hectic offseason, Curry didn’t play in the FIBA World Cup.
However, he’s reportedly planning to play in the 2020 Olympics. The only difference is that Curry won’t be coming off a major injury. Thompson, who tore his ACL in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals, will be.
Thompson will have already played in the NBA and will likely have already played at the association’s highest level, the NBA playoffs. He’s expected to return late in the season, following the 2020 All-Star break.
That said, the news of Thompson’s plans to play was first brought to light by The Athletic’s Marcus Thompson (premium content).
Although the duo of Thompson and Curry have brought the Bay three championships, they’ve yet to win an Olympic medal together. Curry didn’t make the trip to Brazil in 2016 because of an injury. Thompson did bask in the glory of that gold medal though.
Now, they may get a chance to win for their country, not just their team, together. In 2016, three Warriors, Harrison Barnes and Draymond Green included, helped Team USA easily take home the gold.
Although they won’t need all the superstar power that they may end up taking, it’s clear Team USA must do something after not placing in the FIBA Olympics. Other teams, with multiple NBA players, can pose a threat, and Team USA felt their power this year.
Taking Curry and Thompson could almost guarantee a gold medal return for Team USA.