After 941 days away from an NBA court, Klay Thompson returned to the Warriors on Jan. 9. The star shooting guard played 16 games before the All-Star break, and how his return progresses will play a major role in the Warriors' NBA title chances.
Thompson scored 17 points on 7-for-18 shooting in his first game back against the Cleveland Cavaliers, but he struggled shooting the ball initially. He was forcing it, trying to make up for lost time and hoping to find a groove as quickly as possible and the Warriors' offense struggled in the games following his return.
“I thought I was overeager to shoot and out of position sometimes defensively,” Thompson told The Athletic's Anthony Slater. “First game was easy because the adrenaline was so high. I think the last 10 games, my numbers shooting-wise have been going up. I want to come out shooting it like I know I’m capable. But who can do that after two-and-a-half years off from an NBA game? …Steve (Kerr) helped me a lot. He told me to breath and allow myself to make errors.”
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SIGN UP HERE But Thompson seems to have found his shot of late. Over his last five games, Thompson is averaging 19.5 points per game while shooting 43.6 percent from the field and 44.0 percent from the 3-point line. That included a 33-point explosion against the Los Angeles Lakers and a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in which he knocked down two dagger 3-pointers.
Of course, Thompson's offensive game is just one side of an important coin for the Warriors.
Prior to tearing his ACL in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals, Thompson was one of the best two-way players in the league and Golden State relied on him to often be the primary defender on the opposing team's best perimeter threat.
As Thompson continues to get his NBA legs back after an ACL and Achilles injury, the Warriors haven't asked Thompson to carry a heavy defensive burden yet. The three-time NBA champion still is getting his lateral quickness back, but he is confident he can get back to where he was and check quicker guards like Ja Morant as well as bigger wings.
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“I think I’m at like 80 percent,” Thompson told Slater. “Still have a long way to go. But 80 percent me is still great on that side of the ball. I can use my strength to body guys, my size to body smaller guards. Be solid against big men. I can still switch. But as far as my lateral quickness, it’s about — from where it was — it’s about 80, 85 percent from where it was. I know it’ll take time to come back. There will be bumps in the road.”
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The Warriors have Andrew Wiggins to use as their primary perimeter defender. Gary Payton II and a healthy Andre Iguodala also will play a role in that area come playoff time.
Draymond Green's rehab from a disc issue in his lower back is the biggest question facing the Warriors as they exit the All-Star break.
But with just 23 games remaining in the regular season, Thompson's continued progression on both sides of the ball is just as important to a team with a championship-or-bust mentality.
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