Golden State Warriors: Klay Thompson must re-prove himself to league

The Golden State Warriors are hopefully going to get Klay Thompson back for the first time since the 2019 NBA Finals. As everyone I’m sure remembers, Thompson went up for a dunk and landed awkwardly with guard Danny Green contesting.

He looked ready to get back into the game, but that was never going to happen as the pain seemed too much. Thompson was diagnosed with a torn ACL. He was out the entire 2019-2020 season, one that was drastically changed by Covid-19.

The Golden State Warriors are going to hopefully see Klay Thompson on the court this season, but he’ll have to prove he’s at the same level he left at.

In rehabbing to get back in action, Thompson ruptured his Achilles. It’s been a tough road back for the five-time All-Star that has shot over 40 percent from deep in each of his eight seasons in the league.

However, after those two injuries, Thompson must once again prove that he’s still capable of being that Game 6 Klay. Can he come back and put up 20-25 on a nightly basis? He’ll have the opportunity with Kevin Durant now in Brooklyn.

When looking at ten players that will “have the most to prove” CBS Sports listed Thompson, and as noted, it’s with good cause.

"“Klay Thompson’s status as one of the greatest shooters of all time is already solidified. However, any time a player misses an entire season due to injury issues — or two in Thompson’s case — they have to go out and prove that they can still perform at, or near, the level they played at prior to the injury. Thompson’s case is especially interesting because the level that he was operating at prior to his injury issues was extremely high, and if he’s indeed able to regain his old form (or close to it) the Warriors will quickly morph back into legitimate contenders in the Western Conference. If he has lost a step (or two) on either end though, Golden State might need to bring in some outside help in order to maximize the time that Steph Curry is still at, or near, the peak of his powers,” Michael Kaskey-Blomain wrote."

Thompson was, and still is, on track to be one of the league’s best shooters of all time. The season he took off and how that injury may wear on his body should have most fans concerned with the level of play he’ll return at.

However, the saving grace is that Thompson’s main threat was never his athleticism. Given his work on the defensive end, that was always a key to his game, but his shooting was what made him an All-Star-caliber player.

Playing 76 games in the 2016-2017 season, Thompson recorded just five dunks. He topped that at a career-high 24 dunks during the 2018-2019 season, but regardless, his acrobatic finishing or leaping ability has never been what’s propelled him to All-Star status.

His instincts and shooting are. While expectations should be tempered for Thompson, there’s no reason to write off that he could be a star once again. But, there’s also good reason to assume he’ll need to prove himself again.