KLay Thompson already sees his return to the NBA after a long journey through the desert of injuries. The Warriors are optimistic about the return of the guard, who could play a game next Sunday against the Cavaliers. If you do it on that date, 941 days will have passed since the last.
Thompson was last seen in a game on June 13, 2019, during the NBA Finals the Warriors lost to the Raptors. It seems like centuries have passed since then. In the sixth and last game of that series, the guard suffered a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. He will miss the entire 19-20 season, but worse news awaited him.
When the recovery from that injury was rushed, he ruptured the Achilles tendon in his right leg. Another devastating injury that has kept him out until now. Thompson, 31, seems fully recovered. He has been working out with the Warriors’ tie team in the G League and has recently been seen scoring long series of 3s without fail. He has not lost his good hand.
For the Warriors it will be an extraordinary addition. They lead the NBA with a balance of 28-7 and also both offensive and defensive statistics. If after the necessary period of adaptation they manage to couple Thompson and he recovers the level of yesteryear, they will have enormous potential to aspire to the ring again. He was already decisive in the three rings won by Golden State in the Steve Kerr era. Now he comes back more eager than ever.