Klay Thompson ranked by ESPN as a top-35 NBA player

ESPN is ending the NBA offseason with their updated player rankings. Andrew Wiggins came in at No. 77. Draymond Green was No. 37, and now Klay Thompson has also been ranked, being dubbed the 32nd-best NBA player.

Thompson was not ranked a season ago as his ruptured Achilles happened prior to the rankings. The guard was also out the entire season prior to his ruptured Achilles, having torn his ACL in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals.

The Golden State Warriors have now seen their third of four players ranked by ESPN with guard Klay Thompson coming in as the 32nd-best NBA player.

Ja Morant came in just above Klay Thompson at No. 31. Immediately below the five-time All-Star was Chicago Bulls’ star shooting guard Zach LaVine. That said, here’s Thompson’s paragraph description, which ESPN did for each ranked player.

"“Arguably the single biggest question mark in the league is whether Thompson will return to form after missing two years because of ACL and Achilles injuries. If he does, the Warriors believe they can vault themselves back toward the top of the Western Conference. If he doesn’t, any hope the Warriors have of being title contenders in the near future is gone,” Nick Friedell wrote."

It’s truly difficult to gauge what level of play Thompson will return at. What we do know is that his arm wasn’t injured. While that’s obvious, most of Thompson’s dominance comes from his shooting rather than his athleticism.

So, even if his jumping and speed take a bit of a hit, he should be just fine once he gets his legs under him. Prior to his injury, Thompson had averaged over 20 points per game for five straight seasons.

He’s in an elite company as one of the only players to shoot over 40 percent throughout their entire career. Thompson’s been a home run of a lottery pick, and he’s one of the major reasons why this dynasty has thrived.

Upon his return, Thompson will have his starting shooting guard spot back, with Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green, Stephen Curry, and James Wiseman the other four likely starters. With a quality bench and young prospects, the Warriors are set up for long-term success.

However, the level of play Thompson can get to will certainly factor into how much short-term success this franchise will have. If he’s at 95 percent of what he left at, you can expect the Warriors to be instant title contenders.

That said, I did expect Thompson a bit lower than 32 given his injuries, but what he’s proven throughout his career easily qualifies him for the spot.