Golden State Warriors: Thompson injury means increased roles for many

With Klay Thompson set to miss another season – it’s time for these players to step up for the Golden State Warriors.

The Golden State Warriors took a brutal loss last night with Klay Thompson falling to yet another season-ending injury. While there is optimism that Thompson will make a full recovery from his torn Achilles – it’s extremely unlikely we see him suit up for the Warriors this season. For this reason, the Dubs will need to see some players take on increased roles.

Let’s start with the guy who will be most impacted by the loss of Thompson – Stephen Curry. The two-time MVP has never had to brace for an NBA Playoff run without his trusty Splash Brother. We saw how difficult life could become for Curry in Klay’s absence during the 2019 NBA Finals when the Toronto Raptors relentlessly targetted Curry on both ends of the floor.

Not having Thompson there to relieve him of some pressure will be a harsh blow for Curry. We will need to see the MVP face the challenge of holding his own defensively and creating shots for himself without the aid of a Thompson heat-check standing by.

This is where players like Andrew Wiggins step in. It is incredibly important that Wiggins embraces his role as the team’s second-best scorer. Wiggins needs to fill in as a three-level scorer that can demand attention from opposing teams. Without this, Curry will be overwhelmed every night.

As for young guys like Jordan Poole, now is the time to earn your spot in the rotation. Poole had a shaky rookie season but a strong finish to the year will have him playing minutes in Thompson’s place. If he can prove himself as a reliable 3-and-D presence – Poole will become very valuable.

Lastly, James Wiseman has to do something few rookies ever have to consider. Wiseman won’t have time to experience many of the normal rookie blunders. He has to be a professional from the moment he hits the court. Wiseman must do everything to learn the game as quickly as possible to help make an impact on this Warriors team.

The Warriors are down – but they are not out. The path to a championship is still there, it just might take a few players to play above expectations.