SAN FRANCISCO – Golden State Warriors swingman Klay Thompson says it “kills” him to miss his second season in a row, this time due to an Achilles tear, but the former All-Star says his rehab is going well and he’s still is still planning on playing for “a long time”.
Speaking for the first time since ending a Judge Achilles tear during a training session on Nov. 18, Thompson was excited to discuss the lengthy lawsuit he faces.
“I’m living well,” Thompson told NBC Bay Area during Saturday night’s game between the Warriors and Detroit Pistons. “To be back in the building that I so eagerly look forward to playing in. A bit bored at times. Things are slow with trying to get my Achilles tendon to heal and move to the next stage, which is mobility work, but I I feel good, of course I am happy to be with my teammates.
“Unfortunately I don’t play. I get broken every day, but I plan on playing for a long time and I don’t want to have any accidents during this rehab.”
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 hoped Thompson could help push the organization back into the championships, but those dreams evaporated just hours before the 2020 concept when Thompson injured his Achilles tendon while training in Los Angeles.
As sad as the Warriors were over Thompson’s latest injury, they are happy that he has had surgery since late November to repair his Achilles tendon. Thompson has cheered on his teammates from the bench at several Warriors home games at Chase Center.
Thompson acknowledged during Saturday’s game that he did not want to do the interview, but that the banner behind him helped him change his mind.
“I didn’t want to do it, but then I saw this background and someone was doing everything they could to make it happen,” Thompson explained as the background with the hashtag #reporterKlay was visible behind him. “So I felt bad not living up to my end of the deal.”
As he did last season during a brief appearance as a sideline reporter, Thompson had a bit of fun with broadcasters Bob Fitzgerald and Kelenna Azubuike on the air. One of the talks that came up was about Thompson’s 3-point record, after hitting 14 three-pointers in an October 2018 game against the Chicago Bulls.
“That will probably be broken here in the coming years,” Thompson said. “Steph Curry – it’s up to Steph. Zach LaVine was close by. But maybe I’ll break it again, I don’t know. I don’t think it will take that long. ‘
Warriors coach Steve Kerr admitted before Saturday’s game that he didn’t know Thompson would be showing up on the broadcast, but said he would note the performance if he watched it later.
“He’s always very entertaining with his dry humor,” Kerr said of Thompson. “So when I watch the game tape I’ll definitely turn up the volume.”