Klay Thompson Injury

A torn right Achilles’ tendon has kept Klay Thompson out of the lineup for several weeks, but he is expected to make a comeback next week. The NBA has announced that Thompson is “cleared for 100% contact” and could play against the Cavaliers on Jan. 9. But what does that mean?

klay thompson suffered a torn right Achilles’ tendon in Game 6 of the 2019 Finals

Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson suffered a torn Achilles’ tendon during Game 6 of the NBA Finals. He was fouled by Danny Green during a dunk attempt and fell awkwardly. Though he remained in the game and attempted to shoot two free throws, he then needed assistance to exit the court. Initially, it was believed that Thompson could return during the 2019-20 season. However, it was soon announced that Thompson would be out for the entire 2020-21 season.

The injury will put Thompson’s career on hold for at least the next two years. He hasn’t played a full season in over two years and was set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. His absence will likely make the Warriors reconsider offering him max money to sign him.

he has had multiple lower-body surgeries

Klay Thompson has undergone multiple lower-body surgeries over the past few years. One of these procedures was an ACL reconstruction in July 2018. After a delayed postseason, Thompson was forced to sit out the rest of the year after the procedure. He also suffered a strained hamstring in Game 2 of the NBA Finals and had to miss Game 3 as well. Later in the postseason, Klay strained his ankle during Game 6 against the Clippers. Though he played through the pain, the Warriors’ coaching staff isn’t sure how he’ll fare this postseason.

Since his last surgery, Klay Thompson has been working toward a return to basketball. He missed nearly two and a half seasons while recovering from these injuries. His first game back was on January 9, and he scored his first points of 2019 in that game against the Los Angeles Lakers. A month later, he exploded for 37 points against the Milwaukee Bucks. He also exploded for 38 points in a game against the Atlanta Hawks in March. While this has been a long, arduous process, Thompson is thankful to be back playing basketball.

he is cleared for 100% contact

Klay Thompson is on the verge of making his return to the Warriors. After suffering a torn ACL in his left knee in November, the point guard has not been able to play in over a year. He has not played since June 13 and is expected to miss the entire 2019-2020 season. In the meantime, the Warriors’ other star, Stephen Curry, has been dealing with a season-ending hand injury. The Warriors finished with a 15-50 record last season and earned the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft. With that pick, the Warriors selected center James Wiseman from Duke.

Before the Achilles injury, Klay Thompson had undergone an enormous physical change. He was previously known for his skill and finesse, but his recent physical development has changed that. He now relies on off-ball movement to generate open jumpers and sprints around pin-down screens. His game has not been the same since his Achilles injury, but that doesn’t stop him from doing his thing. Thompson hasn’t shied away from the camera either. He has been working out with the team and putting on extra muscle.

he could return against the Cavaliers on Jan. 9

Klay Thompson hasn’t played since June 13, when he tore his ACL and Achilles tendon. He had previously sustained a torn ACL in the NBA Finals and tore the Achilles prior to the 2020-21 season. Golden State has posted a league-best 28-7 record while without Thompson. However, back-to-back major injuries are unusual for a player. During his recovery process, Thompson has been practicing with the Golden State Warriors G League affiliate in Santa Cruz, Calif.

Thompson has made public commitments to return against the Cavaliers on Sunday. The Warriors are scheduled to travel with Thompson this week to Dallas, New Orleans, and San Francisco. He will then return to San Francisco for a rest week. Klay Thompson has been recovering from a torn left ACL sustained during the NBA Finals and a torn right Achilles tendon sustained during a November 2020 workout.