Getty
DENVER, CO – OCTOBER 21: Klay Thompson (11) of the Golden State Warriors watches a replay as the Denver Nuggets look to close out during the second half of the Nuggets’ 100-98 win on Sunday, October 21, 2018. The Denver Nuggets hosted the Golden State Warriors at the Pepsi Center in Denver. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
Getty
DENVER, CO – OCTOBER 21: Klay Thompson (11) of the Golden State Warriors watches a replay as the Denver Nuggets look to close out during the second half of the Nuggets’ 100-98 win on Sunday, October 21, 2018. The Denver Nuggets hosted the Golden State Warriors at the Pepsi Center in Denver. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
After finishing last season with 15-50, the worst record in the league, the upcoming season was supposed to be their epic comeback. The Splash Brothers, Stephen Curry, and Klay Thompson were all anybody wanted to see back in action. However, it looks like it might be awhile before one gets to see Klay back on the court.
Watch What’s Trending Now!
The Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr was hoping to have his healthy dream team in 2020-21. But Thompson’s rough patch just doesn’t seem to end as he has suffered another season-ending injury. This has also led the Warriors to make certain decisions this offseason, to compensate for Klay’s absence, like trading for Phoenix Suns‘ Kelly Oubre Jr.
The Warriors were a team that went to five NBA Finals consecutively and came back with three titles. Thompson deserves a lot of the credit for the Warriors’ success during those years since he earned himself five All-Star selections.
But it all came crashing during Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals. Thompson ended up tearing his ACL and missing the entire last season. Following this, Kevin Durant left and Stephen Curry also played only five games all season. And now, after a surgery for his injury, Klay is most likely to miss the entire upcoming season too.
Getty
LOS ANGELES, CALFORNIA APRIL 29, 2014-Clippers Jamal Crawford and Warriors Klay Thompson battle for a loose ball in game 5 of the NBA Western Conference playoffs in Los Angeles Tuesday. (Photo by Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Former coach devastated for Klay Thompson
Watching Klay Thompson sit out another season is difficult for any basketball fan to witness. In an interview, the guard’s former coach Mike Krzyzewski or Coach K opened up about his thoughts on the matter.
“Yeah, I texted him and just said ‘I am so damn sorry’, revealed Coach K. “Because you talk about him representing the United States. He was a killer, man. Maybe as good a shooter as ever has played, without dribbling. He didn’t need to dribble. He ultimately understood what it was to get your shot without the ball, before you got the ball. The most perfect example of that… He shoots the same shot. Same shot. And boy, what a loss, too, for the Warriors.”
"He was a killer."
Coach K was heartbroken to see @warriors star and his former @usabasketball SG Klay Thompson suffer another season ending injury. pic.twitter.com/YYEMeGneUF
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) November 26, 2020
Although there is nobody that can replicate what Thompson brings to the table, Kelly Oubre is their best option. Not all is yet lost and the Warriors can still become championship contenders.
