Klay Thompson tore his ACL in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals. A vital part of the Golden State Warriors dynasty, many expected Thompson to return after the 2020 All-Star break. According to Steve Kerr, though, Thompson is “unlikley” to see the floor this season.
Klay Thompson Likely Out for Season with ACL Injury
There may not be a team in the NBA that has taken a bigger hit in the past four months than the Warriors. Not only did Kevin Durant — a two-time Finals MVP — depart for the Brooklyn Nets, but now it seems they’ll be without the second “Splash Brother” for longer than expected. When Thompson went down with a torn ACL in the 2019 NBA Finals, many speculated he could be back by the 2020 All-Star break. However, Kerr’s latest comments have all but shut down that narrative.
“It’s unlikely that he’s going to play this year,” Kerr told NBC Sports Bay Area. “You have to look at it realistically. Generally, an ACL for a basketball player is a full-year recovery, and if it’s a full year for Klay, that puts them out for the season.”
EXCLUSIVE: Steve Kerr tells @loganmmurdock it's "unlikely" Klay Thompson will play for the Warriors this season as he recovers from his torn ACL. https://t.co/PNcyCxESH7 pic.twitter.com/jWKnv0xRpM
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) October 22, 2019
Kerr added that the team has “left the door open” in case Thompson’s rehab goes well, but also that he still remains pessimistic about a potential return. Perhaps hoping for a nine-month recovery period was nothing more than wishful thinking for both Warriors and NBA fanatics. In reality, most players need close to a full 12 months to fully recover from such an injury.
The Warriors will still be playoff contenders in the Western Conference, but it seems virtually impossible for them to make a title run without Thompson. He has been the hero for the Warriors in recent playoffs with multiple season-saving performances. Now, a team that once featured five All-Stars in its starting lineup feels vacant as Stephen Curry and D’Angelo Russell will be tasked with keeping the Warriors afloat amidst all the recent roster turnover.
In a word, the 2019-20 season will be “different” for the Golden State Warriors.
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