Klay Thompson has beaten the odds and has played a key role in the Warriors playing in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2019.
He first tore his ACL in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals; then, before coming back for the 2021 season, he tore his Achilles which forced him to sit out 132 games before hitting the floor again.
Thompson, playing in only 32 regular-season games, was able to score 20.4 points per game on and 38.5 percent shooting from beyond the arc. The 2022 playoffs saw Thompson average 19.8 points, knocking down 39.9 percent of three-point attempts, 45.7 percent shooting from the field, and 80.0 percent from the free-throw line.
None of the numbers have ever mattered for Thompson. All he wants to do is play basketball. His quote from Finals media day has echoed all over in recent hours and epitomized his character as both player and person.
“I’m going to enjoy every second of this, play as hard as I can, and walk away with no regrets,” Thompson told reporters on Monday.
He admitted that he never thought he would get to as many NBA Finals as he has. Thompson’s perseverance has gotten him back to familiar ground, and he will look to play a major role in the Warriors’ quest for a fourth ring with this iteration of the Golden State dynasty.
Golden State hosts Thursday’s Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics.
