SAN FRANCISCO – Golden State Warriors swingman Klay Thompson says it kills him to miss his second consecutive season, this time due to an Achilles tear, but the former All-Star says his rehabilitation will be good come and that he still plans to play for a long time.
Thompson spoke for the first time since he had a serial Achilles tear during a training session on November 18, and he was well-disposed when discussing the lengthy process.
“I’m living well,” Thompson told the NBC Bay Area during Saturday’s game between the Warriors and Detroit Pistons. “To be back in the building I’m so eager to wait to play in. Sometimes just a little bored. The thing is slow to heal my Achilles and get to the next stage, it’s mobility work, but I’m feel good.I’m naturally happy to be with my teammates.
“Unfortunately I do not play. It kills me every day, but I plan to play for a long time, and I do not want any accidents during this rehabilitation.”
Thompson missed the entire 2019-20 season after tearing the ACL in his left knee during Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors. The Warriors had hoped that Thompson could help fight the organization back into championships, but the dreams evaporated just hours before the 2020 draft when Thompson injured his Achilles during a training session in Los Angeles.
Just as sad as the Warriors over Thompson’s latest injury, they’re glad he’s had surgery on the team since the end of November. Thompson has been to several Warriors home games in Chase Center cheering his teammates off the bench.
Thompson admitted during Saturday’s game that he did not want to conduct the interview, but that the banner that hung behind him helped change his mind.
“I did not want to do that, but then I saw this background and someone put a lot of effort into making it happen,” Thompson explained when the background with the hashtag #reporterKlay was displayed behind him. “So I felt bad for not fulfilling my end of the agreement.”
Like last season during a brief appearance as a sideline reporter, Thompson had some fun with broadcasters Bob Fitzgerald and Kelenna Azubuike during the broadcast. One of the conversations that came up was around Thompson’s 3-point record, after hitting 14 three-pointers in a game in October against the Chicago Bulls.
“It’s likely to be broken here in the next few years,” Thompson said. “Steph Curry – it depends on Steph. Zach LaVine was close. But I can break it again, I do not know. I do not think it will last that long.”
Warriors coach Steve Kerr admitted before Saturday’s game that he did not know Thompson was going to drop by the television, but said he would record the appearance if he watched it later.
“He’s always very entertaining with his dry humor,” Kerr said of Thompson. “So if I look at the band of the game, I’ll definitely increase the volume.”