NBA Rumor: Klay Thompson Injury
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Klay Thompson will play despite knee soreness
Klay Thompson listed as probable for Game 2 with right knee soreness
CJ Holmes: Warriors guard Klay Thompson (right Achilles Tendon; injury management) won’t play Saturday night against the Spurs.
Klay Thompson on tomorrow's game vs. Mavericks: I'm playing
Anthony Slater: Klay Thompson will return tomorrow, he says: “I’m playing. I didn’t come all the way to Dallas to watch.” Said he got a massive headache after Thursday’s game and felt sick the last several days. pic.twitter.com/uE33PkwDjB
Klay Thompson out vs. Mavericks due to general illness
Anthony Slater: Klay Thompson is out tonight for the Warriors vs Mavericks. Listed as general illness. Missed practice yesterday and was previously listed as questionable.
Klay Thompson was 10 pounds heavier than usual at time of Achilles injury
But there are different stages to the most careful of recovery approaches. Thompson’s joint had healed. The pandemic had shut down the Warriors’ facility. Thompson was in Los Angeles. Everybody who saw him in those open runs will tell you how great he looked. So he just kept playing, unsupervised and unconcerned about biomechanics that could trigger chain reactions. “I wasn’t at playing weight,” Thompson said. “I was really strong. I was doing a lot of lifting, strengthening my knee. But I just missed the game so much at that time and I was cleared to play 5-on-5. But I’m not sure if it was the right move.” Thompson estimates, during that November 2020 open run, he weighed around 226 or 227 pounds.
“That’s too big to be a shooting guard in my frame,” Thompson said. Thompson’s regular-season NBA playing weight, he said, fluctuates between 216 and 220. It’s painful for him to consider, but he’s also realistic enough to understand that his impatience and the chain reaction of those extra 6-10 pounds very likely triggered the Achilles tear, which robbed him of another 1.5 seasons of his late prime and still threaten the direction of his career. “It might’ve been costly,” Thompson said. “I don’t know. I try not to think about it too much. But it just, uh, it’s something I learned from. I’m not in my early 20s anymore, where I can just play all offseason. That’s what I was trying to do. Going forward, I’m not going to do that. I’m going to save it for the season.”
Klay Thompson to return tonight
Anthony Slater: Klay Thompson will play tonight.
Klay Thompson was a late scratch yesterday. So is there any sense that his absence could extend beyond missing just that one game? Marc J. Spears: Yeah, no warriors aren’t too concerned. This is the same knee that’s clever in the finals and that game six against the raptors, but it’s just some soreness and they’re erring on the side of caution. Everything I’m hearing is he’s expected to play tomorrow night against Dallas.
Klay Thompson questionable for game against Dallas
Monte Poole: Klay Thompson (L knee) did not practice with Warriors today and is questionable for tomorrow vs Mavericks, per Steve Kerr
Klay Thompson out against Jazz with knee soreness
Anthony Slater: Klay Thompson has knee soreness. He is out tonight vs Jazz. Late scratch. “Day to day,” Kerr says. Surgically repaired knee. “Nothing too concerning. Just part of the cautiousness,” Kerr says.
Stephen Curry's message to Klay Thompson: 'There's no pressure'
What has been your message to Klay in his return? (Thompson is currently on a restriction of 20 minutes — with the plan of gradually increasing by five minutes every few weeks before he is a full-go for the postseason.) Stephen Curry: I’ve let him know: There’s no pressure. We got off to a good start this year so that we could have this buffer, this middle part of the year for him to get his legs back and understand what it feels like for his body to play at this level again. Two and a half years is such a long time between games. He can still shoot the ball, still crazy competitive and understands the long game. It’s only been a few games. For him to understand he’s going to get back to the player he is in due time … he knows April, May and June is what it’s all about. I can’t wait to see it.
Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob says he’s not a tweeter, but if he were to send a tweet, he knows exactly what it would say. “I would tweet, ‘Tonight Chase Center is finally finished with construction,’ ” Lacob told Yahoo Sports Sunday night after Klay Thompson made his season debut after spending nearly two years recovering from ACL and Achilles tears. “We’re halfway through our third year in this building, and I feel like Klay is the final piece to the construction.”
Danny Green on Klay Thompson's injury: 'If I can take that play back, I would'
The origin of Thompson’s 177-game absence occurred in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals between the Warriors and Toronto Raptors. Green was a member of that Raptors championship team, and he was whistled for a foul after he attempted a chase-down block on Thompson. The collision caused the five-time All-Star to land awkwardly on his left leg, tearing his ACL. “If I can take that play back, I would,” Green told Yahoo Sports on Sunday night. “No one wants to see a great player go down, and no one wants to be the cause of that. It wasn’t intentional. I’m glad that he’s back. The game has missed him.”
“When it first happened, I thought I blocked the ball,” Green told Yahoo Sports. “I thought it was a clean block and then he went down, I was like, ‘Man, he’s hurt. Let me make sure he’s OK.’ Some of the guys on the sidelines were upset. A lot of fans were upset. Obviously, I got a lot of backlash for it. But I’m trying to make a clean play on the ball, and I just wanted to make sure he was good. … And then he came back on the court to shoot his free throws, and that’s when I thought he was fine. “I didn’t know that he tore anything until after the game, which was a tough blow. It was tough to hear what was being said, but I didn’t look at myself as the victim. My concern was for him. Their fans are great fans. They’re going to encourage their team. And anybody that tries to hurt or do anything to the other 10 or 13 players, they’re gonna fight for them. So, I got some heated emotions from some of the fans, but every time I’ve spoken about the incident, I’ve stated that it was not purposeful at all.”
Klay Thompson to start tonight
Marc J. Spears: Klay Thompson is starting
Connor Letourneau: Kerr on having Klay at this morning’s walk-through: “It was almost surreal. He’s finally back, the day’s finally here. We’re all bouncing off the walls. The hard part, for sure, is being able to settle into the game and trying to beat a really good team amidst all the emotions.”
Connor Letourneau: Every Warriors player showed up at Chase Center today in a Klay Thompson jersey. “I don’t know who’s idea it was,” Kerr said, “but I think it’s great.”
Kevin Durant on Klay Thompson return: It's going to be electric
Nick Friedell: Pop on Klay’s return: “It’s another big thrill for the fans. I don’t mean just Golden State. The league is about players, it’s about talent … and him being one of the best shooters in the world, and also a hell of a defender, just adds to the aura of their team and to the NBA.”
Stephen Curry: My brother returning to the court has me going down memory lane… let me hear your favorite @KlayThompson memories! #KlayDay
Monte Poole: Juan Toscano-Anderson on Klay’s return: ‘The magnitude . . . is so big for us, for the (GS) Warriors organization, but just for the Bay, too. Klay is beloved in the Bay. Klay is one of us. Klay could move to Oakland forever. Klay could move to 95th (Avenue) if he wants to.’
Draymond Green on Klay Thompson: He looked really, really good in scrimmage
Marc J. Spears: Warriors forward Draymond Green told @TheUndefeated that Klay Thompson looked “really, really good” in scrimmage today and it felt special to finally be playing with him again.
Ohm Youngmisuk: Juan Toscano-Anderson said Klay Thompson scored “12 points in 43 seconds” during a recent scrimmage and it made him think to himself, “damn, we got two guys” that can do that.
Melissa Rohlin: Steph Curry changed his Twitter photo to this:
Klay Thompson announces Sunday return from injury
Klay Thompson: How I’m pulling up to chase tomorrow, Bill Murray is my spirit animal . IM SO EXCITED TO SEE YALL DUBNATION ! LETS GET IT
Wiseman noted that Thompson was “very inspirational to me,” and tried to keep the young center’s spirits up as the pair went through the arduous rehab process together. “During the summer when I was still on my crutches and stuff and I had my brace, I was like really down mentally,” Wiseman admitted. “But at the same time I’m a really strong person, but it’s just hard watching the games and you can’t play. So I was kind of down mentally, but he encouraged me to keep going. … We just kept each other uplifted throughout this offseason and we’re doing it every day.”
Thompson struggles to put into words what it will be like when he finally returns. Curry, however, does not. “It’s like when you go to a Broadway play or you go see ‘Hamilton’ and all the cast comes out at the end,” Curry said. “Like the whole stage is doing the bows and curtsies and all that, and the whole audience is going nuts because they really appreciate the show that they got to see. … And then it will hopefully be an energy like during his 37-point quarter where every time he shoots, it will be like a game winner.”
Klay Thompson likely back Sunday
After missing two consecutive seasons with ACL and Achilles tears, Golden State Warriors star Klay Thompson is expected to return on Sunday against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Chase Center, sources tell The Athletic.
Andrew Bogut on Klay Thompson: 'He's the most non-chalant All-Star I've been around'
“He’s actually a pretty interesting guy, as the media and people are starting to see the last couple of years with his boat, his dog, hiking and going to the beach,” Bogut said in a phone interview. “He’s really quirky and the reason I like him as an NBA player is he doesn’t follow the mantra of what he should be. “He’s the most nonchalant All-Star I’ve been around in my career. Just an everyday normal guy that’s happy with the silliest of things at times. He’s not too worried about that NBA life of sports cars and all that kind of stuff.”
“I still remember in the 2016 Olympics, we’re all staying in the village,” Bogut said. “The USA (men’s basketball team), as you know, they’re too big-time for the village. They have them on a cruise liner or whatever they stay at. But we get back from practice one day, like middle of the tournament, got off the bus and in the village we’re walking to our residences. And I see Klay. As I’m on the bus I see Klay just walking around, Team USA gear, headphones on, just walking by himself. “So I jump off the bus, I’m like, ‘Klay, what are you doing, man?’ Say hello to him. He goes, ‘Yeah, I just wanted to come see the village.’ He just came by himself, no security, no other players with him. Then he’s like, ‘Where are you going?’ I said, ‘I’m just going back to the Australian quarters.’ And he’s, ‘Can I come with you?’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, no worries.’
“And he came with us, hung out with a few of our players, because he knows Aron Baynes and Brock Motum. Came and said hello to them. And then fast-forward two or three hours later, I thought he’d left. I walked downstairs to go to dinner or whatever and he’s downstairs playing ping-pong with, like, someone from the athletics team on the Australian national team, you know?”
Pachulia, now a Warriors executive, has spent the last few weeks in Europe for the holidays (and watching his sons in a youth basketball tournament), but he’s absolutely making sure he’ll be back in San Francisco for whenever Klay is set to return. I’ve heard a lot of Warriors people get emotional talking about the anticipation for this. But Pachulia topped them all. “I can’t wait!” Pachulia said with a bellow. “It’s been an extremely long two years. Especially the last stretch, that’s been the longest. He sees the light at the end of the tunnel. I can’t imagine the energy we’re going to have in Chase Center for that game. I don’t know how he’s going to sleep the night before. I don’t know how I’m going to sleep the night before.”
The most public example of this phenomenon came when Pachulia and Klay exchanged several public challenges, all, coincidentally, highlighting some of their lesser hoop attributes. They bet about which of them would have more dunks in a season, which lasted multiple seasons, including after Pachulia left the Warriors for Detroit in his final season.
Anthony Slater: Two off days before the Warriors’ home game Sunday against the Cavaliers. Steve Kerr not yet ready to officially dub it Klay Thompson’s return night. Said “that’ll be up to Rick (Celebrini).” Day off Friday, practice Saturday.
Klay Thompson to play limited minutes in return
Anthony Slater: Steve Kerr said “my guess” is Klay Thompson will play around 15-20 minutes in his return and “there’s a good chance” they’ll rest him on one side of back-to-backs as he gets back into the flow.
Clutch Points: Klay Thompson left pregame of Warriors-Heat by holding up six fingers. 🖐🏽☝🏽 His rumored return, Sunday vs. the Cavs, is six days away. 👀 pic.twitter.com/UgO2XJXUR5
Steve Kerr on Klay Thompson returning on Sunday: It's possible
Ohm Youngmisuk: Steve Kerr says “it’s possible” if Klay Thompson could return on Sunday against the Cavs. @Adrian Wojnarowski reported earlier that there’s optimism that Klay could come back then.
Ohm Youngmisuk: Steve Kerr says Klay Thompson will travel with the team on its upcoming back-to-back at Dallas and New Orleans. James Wiseman, who has cleared protocols, will not travel with team as he continues to make his way back.
Melissa Rohlin: Klay Thompson on IG Live from his boat: “I’m almost there.”
Klay Thompson may return on Sunday against Cavs
Adrian Wojnarowski: There’s optimism Golden Warriors guard Klay Thompson will make his return vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday, sources tell ESPN. A final decision is expected once the Warriors return from a two-game trip on Friday.
Klay Thompson on return to action: I feel very close
Anthony Slater: Klay Thompson said he feels “very close” -Target date? “That’s up to Mr. Celebrini.” -Set on it being a home return? “Yeah. I want it to be in front of our fans. They deserve it.”
Anthony Slater: Klay Thompson: “I feel like it’s going to take a few games, maybe a few weeks to get to feeling like an All-Star again.” Sounds like the plan remains around an 18-minute limit to start with a ramp up
Anthony Slater: Klay Thompson took part in a scrimmage today in Denver on the same team as Steph Curry and Andrew Wiggins. First time he’s ever played with Wiggins. Here is Kerr on it. pic.twitter.com/nemwSrNSoP
Even now, the party continues. Because as Thompson barrels toward one of the most anticipated comebacks in Bay Area history, he’s still singing the praises of those who added some finishing touches to what looks like the end of his two-and-a-half-year rehabilitation odyssey. And no NBA prospect makes Thompson more animated, more talkative, than a 28-year-old former Division III point guard whose pro career topped out with a junior-league team in Spain. David Fatoki, now a rising executive, is the general manager of the Santa Cruz Warriors. Thompson ranks among his biggest fans. The Warriors star agreed to this interview simply because of the subject matter. “Anything for ‘Toki,” Thompson said as he settled into his seat. “Thanks for writing about Dave,” he said as he departed.
Thompson shrugs off the suggestion that he consciously played any kind of leadership role in Santa Cruz, where he spent two and a half weeks in late November and early December. But he doesn’t mind that his work ethic may have caught the attention of an NBA hopeful. “I just love the game so much. The last few years have been really hard for me, not being able to perform on the court,” Thompson said. “When I was down there (in Santa Cruz), I was able to just get up and down. “I’m just grateful to run, jump, cut, defend, shoot the ball. That has a whole new meaning to me now after the surgeries I’ve been through and the rehabs I’ve been through. Just to be able to be healthy and play the game, it’s really a blessing.”
Nick Friedell: Kerr said there’s a “good chance” that Warriors will be “cautious” as it pertains to Klay playing both ends of back to backs whenever he does return — but they want to get him back on the floor and playing first before making those final decisions.
Anthony Slater: Klay Thompson getting in a group workout session pregame in Phoenix pic.twitter.com/67MwuOXLnx
Nick Friedell: Kerr says Klay is “coming along well” as he continues rehab— went through a scrimmage yesterday and all of practice today. Still no set date for a return but Warriors are happy with what they see.
Klay Thompson targeting January for comeback
Adrian Wojnarowski: ESPN Sources: Golden State and Klay Thompson are targeting January for a return to the NBA on a home date — with key targets including January 9 vs. Cleveland and January 18 vs. Detroit. January 3 vs. Miami hasn’t been ruled out, but is considered less likely.
Klay Thompson entering final stages of a return to play
Klay Thompson back after Christmas?
Anthony Slater: The Warriors don’t plan for Klay Thompson’s return on either the Dec 20th or 23rd home games, sources tell me and @Shams Charania. He won’t come back on Christmas. So earliest possible Klay return would be Dec 28th. Still ramping up his conditioning over next couple weeks.
Former Warriors guard Monta Ellis sent out a warning to the rest of the league, saying Klay’s comeback will be “scary” for other teams. Although an exact date is unknown at this time, Thompson said during an Instagram live on Dec. 3 that his return could be in a few weeks or a month. And whether Christmas comes early this year for Dub Nation or not, it’s safe to say Klay’s return is coming soon. “That’s going to be scary for other teams because of how they are playing right now,” Ellis told 95.7 The Game’s “Steiny and Guru” on Friday. “But you can tell he’s determined to get back. He’s doing it the right way, not trying to rush back too fast.”
Ellis, who battled a handful of injuries over the years — including his infamous ankle sprain suffered in a moped accident — offered a piece of advice to Klay. “The only thing I can tell him is, just keep working hard, stay focused and not try to overdo too much to where you can set yourself back. Just keep working hard and get strong, you going to be all right,” Ellis said.
Warriors assign Klay Thompson to G League
Klay Thompson not traveling with Warriors on upcoming road trip
Anthony Slater: Klay Thompson will not travel on the Warriors’ upcoming five-game road trip, per Kerr. Team returns home for a Dec. 20th game against the Kings.
Ron Kroichick: Steph Curry on Klay Thompson’s eventual return: “Thank God he still remembers how to shoot the ball. That hasn’t changed at all. It seems like he has good pep in his step, good energy.” #Warriors
Melissa Rohlin: Stephen Curry when asked about Klay Thompson’s progress. “Thank God he still remembers how to shoot the ball,” he said.
Melissa Rohlin: Steve Kerr confirmed that it’s still the plan for Klay Thompson to make his return at home after missing the last two seasons. “If it doesn’t happen, am I in trouble?” he said, flashing a smile.
Kerith Burke: Steve Kerr said Klay Thompson’s stamina now in scrimmages compared to when he first started scrimmaging is “pretty dramatic.” Kerr cautioned frustrating days could be ahead when the gains in endurance and strength aren’t as huge. “He needs to play day after day,” Kerr said.
Klay Thompson hopes to return in the next few weeks
Kendra Andrews: On his Instagram live, Klay Thompson says he hopes to be back in the court in the next few weeks, maybe a month. “It’s hard to gauge.”
But a year removed from Achilles repair and almost 2 ½ years past ACL surgery, Thompson appeared overwhelmed by just how much he has endured and how tough the final steps will be in his arduous trek back to the court. “He can’t help but stop and think about how much he’s lost during the past couple of years,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said. “He loves the game so much. Not being able to play and not being able to really be a part of the team the way he wants, it’s been pretty emotional for him. He’s very human. He’s vulnerable. He’s emotional. That’s what makes him such a beautiful person. He cares. He loves the game, and he loves the work. “He wants to be a part of everything, and all of that has been ripped away the past two years.”
“Unless he wants to write a book and tell every step of the way, nobody will understand what he’s been through away from the game,” Warriors point guard Stephen Curry said. “Two-plus years is a long time. Going into this particular season, with him getting closer than he’s ever been to getting back on the floor, I kind of predicted that this would be the hardest part of his journey. “He’s got the basketball back in his hands every day. He’s feeling like himself. He’s playing pickup. He’s around our practices. He’s back with us in those type of situations, but he’s still not on the court.”
“He’s right there, getting toward the end of the road. Or, the beginning of the road. However you choose to look at it,” Green said. “He has these days from time to time. I understand it as far as I can understand, without going through it. I don’t know many people who love basketball the way that Klay loves basketball or loves competing the way he loves competing. “You want to impact the game. You want to have your presence out there and make your presence felt. After almost three full calendar years off the floor, it’s tough. … But it’s beautiful to watch him conquer his journey.”
Klay Thompson assigned to G League
Shams Charania: Another step in Klay Thompson’s return process: The Golden State Warriors assigned Thompson to G League Santa Cruz for increased practice reps, sources tell me and @Anthony Slater.
Klay Thompson increasing intensity of practice
Anthony Slater: Klay Thompson and James Wiseman remained back in the Bay Area during this four-day Warriors road trip. Klay is increasing the intensity of his scrimmaging, Wiseman is still not yet cleared for 5-on-5 contact work.
Nick Friedell: Klay: “I don’t fear getting hurt again. The last two times was a freak accident.”
Klay Thompson: I don't know when I'll return, it's really hard to say
Connor Letourneau: Klay Thompson on when he expects to come back: “I don’t know. It’s really hard to say. It’s definitely a feel thing. … Hopefully sooner rather than later because I am really excited to get back to balling.”
Monte Poole: ‘Who knows when it will be. Hopefully first half of the season.’ — Warriors G Klay Thompson on his impending return Adds that he hopes it’s the first ‘trimester.’ He’s ramping up his minutes with each scrimmage.
Anthony Slater: Klay Thompson said his scrimmages have been 4-minute quarters. He will ramp up to 5-minute, 6-minute, 7-minute quarters the next couple weeks. Eventually plan is to get to 12-minute quarters within a month: “That’s when I’ll be approaching gameplay.”
Connor Letourneau: Kevon Looney: “Klay looked good, especially for someone who’s been out that long. … We’re excited to see him get back.”
Steve Kerr on Klay Thompson: We don't have a target return date yet
Connor Letourneau: The Warriors brought in some people to scrimmage with Klay Thompson yesterday. “He looks good,” Kerr said. “…It’s just a matter of building strength and endurance, especially the endurance part. It just takes time.”
Mark Haynes: Steve Kerr on Klay Thompson’s injury update: “When I said I don’t know where that came from, I was referring to when he was coming back…I probably just anticipated a question that didn’t come, so that’s my fault. I just wanted to make sure everybody was on the same page.”
Nick Friedell: Kerr on Klay: “He looks good … Klay is just so happy to be out there playing, competing.” Kerr says Klay did everything at practice today and it’s just a matter of building up Klay’s strength and endurance now.
Nick Friedell: Klay, rocking the 77 jersey, getting some shots up after practice. pic.twitter.com/zoeLDJag9O
Steve Kerr: Noboby has told me Klay Thompson is cleared from practice
Klay Thompson trending towards pre-Christmas return
The Warriors, a league-best 14-2, returned to San Francisco this weekend to good news. Klay Thompson came through well after a week of 5-on-5 scrimmaging and has been cleared to be a full-time participant in all future Warriors’ practices, sources tell The Athletic. Thompson is trending toward a potential return the week before Christmas Day, those sources said.
In-season practices aren’t the most intense. Veterans typically use off-days to rest, get treatment and watch film. So Thompson won’t spend the next week running through constant game speed reps with Steph Curry and Draymond Green. The full-team workouts are pretty light. But this is still a vital advancement in his ramp-up. The Warriors don’t have a game on either Monday or Tuesday. During off-days, they typically set up a scrimmage with players at the back end of their team rotation who need court work. Thompson is expected to join those scrimmages, matching him against other current NBA athletes in a full-blown, unconstrained contact setting for the first time since he suffered the first of two major injuries in June 2019 when he sustained a torn ACL. Thompson suffered a torn Achilles tendon last November.
February 3, 2023 | 9:00 pm EST Update
Lakers have interest in Bogdan Bogdanovic?
The Lakers had Westbrook trade discussions with teams in the approach to Thursday’s deadline, including with the Utah Jazz. There’s skepticism that the Detroit Pistons will trade Bojan Bogdanovic, though Toronto’s Gary Trent Jr. could be a floor-spacer the Lakers might pursue. The team could also have interest in Atlanta guard Bogdan Bogdanovic as they try to add shooting.
Tom Orsborn: Doc knows what Spurs are going through this season: “I have done rebuilds and I have lost 18 in a row (with Boston in 2006-2007), and every day Danny (Ainge) and I would sit around joking, ‘What are we going to do?’ We had a plan, though, and so do they (the Spurs).”
Dane Moore: Rudy Gobert is in tonight
NBA on ESPN: 🚨 HARRISON BARNES POSTER ALERT 🚨 pic.twitter.com/yLKAnoPcsJ
February 3, 2023 | 7:41 pm EST Update
Donovan Mitchell fined $20,000
Danny Cunningham: #Cavs guard Donovan Mitchell was fined $20,000 for his role in the on-court altercation involving Memphis’ Dillon Brooks last night, the NBA announced. Brooks has been suspended one game.
Mavericks interested in both Bojan and Bogdan Bogdanovic?
Would the Dallas Mavericks take Irving? “Yes,” high-ranking officials with knowledge of the Mavericks’ plans said in texts to Yahoo Sports multiple times Friday afternoon. They also want Bojan Bogdanovic from Detroit and Bogdan Bogdanovic from Atlanta — they’re desperate and determined to get help for Luka Doncic before he passes out from exhaustion in carrying that franchise.
