We all knew it to be the case, but now it's set in stone.
Klay Thompson will be out until at least the All-Star break as the Warriors star rehabs from a torn ACL, general manager Bob Myers told the media Monday at Warriors Media Day.
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SIGN UP HERE Thompson, who has been known to battle through injuries, said he will take his time and make sure he is 100 percent before coming back.
"I'm going to do what the team says," Thompson said. "I've done my due diligence on rehabs and ACL injuries. The last thing you want to do is to rush back, especially for a player like me who wants to play until he's in his lat 30s and play at a high level until that point as well. As much as it kills me not to be on the court, patience is a virtue and rushing back would be not very smart."
Thompson tore his ACL in the third quarter of Game 6 of the Warriors' NBA Finals loss to the Toronto Raptors. He heroically walked back on the court to shoot his free throws. Then, much to the chagrin of Myers, Klay jogged back on defense in the hope that the injury wasn't severe.
[RELATED: Klay discusses biggest challenge ahead in ACL recovery]
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Without Thompson until at least mid-February, the Warriors will need an MVP-type season from Steph Curry and great play from Draymond Green and D'Angelo Russell in order to survive a loaded Western Conference.
After years at the top, the Warriors can go back to being the underdogs they were when their dynastic run began.
Just how they like it.