Golden State Warriors: Klay Thompson has to prove himself, again

Can the Golden State Warriors count on Klay Thompson for the long haul? We sure hope so.

Thompson has already proven everything he needs to prove. He rose to the top of the mountain, fell off, stumbled on his way back up and finally helped the Warriors reclaim the throne in 2022.

While he has successfully returned to the floor and battled through an entire NBA Playoffs, can Thompson continue to excel throughout an 82-game season?

Klay Thompson has traveled the road back to the top but will the Golden State Warriors be able to rely on him for an entire regular season?

Last season, Klay appeared in 32 games prior to the playoffs. He began on a minute restriction and strategically rested throughout to protect his health for the big dance.

This worked to near perfection. Thompson started in all 22 of the Warriors’ postseason games, though he dealt with his fair share of rust during the run.

It makes sense that Klay would get off to a few slow starts after sitting on the sidelines for two years.

Gearing up for his first full season since 2019, will Thompson be able to find a better rhythm?

Klay had the worst shooting percentages of his career last season. He was still well-above average at 38% from the 3-point line but the Dubs will be hoping to see a more revitalized version of the Splash Brother.

Doing it for 82 games is no easy feat. No one will be expecting Thompson to compete every night but putting together a consistent season and maintaining his health heading into the playoffs is a challenge Thompson will have to face.

Fortunately, Golden State has enough depth to give Thompson the rest he needs. Jordan Poole is an emerging star while Moses Moody and Donte DiVincenzo can offer additional backup.

If all goes as planned, Klay will grow comfortable and make a run for the 2023 NBA All-Star Game.