Warriors Rumors: Post-injury Klay Thompson is still automatic from deep

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 25: Injured Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors reacts on the bench after the Warriors made a basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Chase Center on November 25, 2019 in San Francisco, California. 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. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 25: Injured Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors reacts on the bench after the Warriors made a basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Chase Center on November 25, 2019 in San Francisco, California. 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. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

After tearing his ACL in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals, Warriors’ shooting guard Klay Thompson is doing what he does best — drain three-pointers.

Klay Thompson was automatic from deep before his injury, and he’s apparently still got the touch. Let’s just say none of the Warriors’ diehard fanbase was worried that Thompson would come back and fail to hit 40% of his shots from deep, something he’s yet to do in his illustrious career.

Steve Kerr joined host David Aldridge on The Athletic’s “Hoops, Adjacent” podcast (subscription required). He talked about Thompson and his progress, mentioning how he hasn’t skipped a beat and was draining shots from everywhere on the court.

Kerr, a sharpshooter himself, will be entering his seventh season as the Warriors head coach. With the Big 3 all aging, he’ll find himself coaching a team similar to that of the Warriors’ 2014-2015 NBA Championship-winning roster.

As for Thompson, he was initially hurt when going up for a dunk on Danny Green. He came down, finished his free throws then eventually hobbled off the court. It was the nail in the coffin as Kevin Durant had ruptured his Achilles the game before.

Going off per his usual self in Game 6, it was a brutal injury for the Warriors. It was bad for the entire NBA as the Dubs were locked in a terrific series with the Toronto Raptors, one they lost in that sixth game.

Thompson will hopefully return just as athletic as he was when he left. A five-time All-Star, Thompson has never feasted on his pure athleticism, although it’s clearly helped him on both ends of the court.

Three-point shooting, as one of the top shooters in league history, has always been his strength. That and just playing his role to a T and understanding how the Warriors’ offense works should allow him to return to an All-Star-caliber player even if he isn’t quite as athletic.

It’s good to see Thompson returning to normal and cashing in from deep. Now, we just need some videos to back up Kerr’s claim.