NBA Insider Tom Haberstroh breaks down why Warriors guard Klay Thompson might have a difficult time returning to All-Star form next season.
For as much hype and mystery that surrounds what the Warriors will do with the No. 2 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, there's just as much intrigue in the return of Klay Thompson.
Thompson hasn't played in a real contest since he tore his ACL in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals on June 13, 2019. With the 2020-21 season set to begin Dec. 22, nobody is more eager to get back on the court than Thompson. He knows his patience will pay off after a long rehab, too.
"With ACL injuries, the last thing you want to do is rush back, especially with a player like me who want to play at a high level until he's in his late 30s," Thompson said in a video from the Warriors' minicamp the team posted Thursday on Twitter. "It kills me to not be on the court -- patience is a virtue."
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Thompson can be seen dunking, draining 3-pointers, playing defense and going through rehab in the video. It's clear his coaches and teammates can't wait to have the Splash Brother at full strength for the upcoming season as well.
"Knowing Klay, he brings an element of 'Klay' to our practice," Warriors assistant coach Bruce Fraser said, "meaning he's different in a funny way."
Added guard Jordan Poole: "Just his presence and energy and how he is -- just to be able to ask him questions and learn to get his insight, it's definitely exciting. It just kind of gives us a peak of what it will be like when the entire team is back together."
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Poole didn't get to play with Thompson as a rookie this last season. The Warriors struggled and had the worst regular-season record in the NBA with Thompson out and Steph Curry only playing five games due to injury and illness.
When Thompson came out of Game 6, he had scored 30 points in just under 32 minutes. The Warriors went on to lose to the Toronto Raptors by four points, failing to three-peat as champions. Now at full strength, they'll look to restart the dynasty next month.