Klay Thompson made his triumphant return to the Golden State Warriors last season.
Although he wasn’t able to fully play at an All-Star level in 2021-22, Thompson did nevertheless play an instrumental role in his squad winning their fourth championship in eight years.
Not bad for a guy who tore his ACL in 2019 and then his Achilles tendon one year later.
That latter injury has continued to haunt Thompson. So much so, in fact, that he it altered his summer plans in 2022.
Klay Thompson didn’t play pickup this summer. Called it a “mental block” he will eventually get over because of torn Achilles in summer ball. But that’s slowed his preseason ramp up. Called next week a “big week” as he revs back up for regular season.
Here he is explaining it pic.twitter.com/0ZCCmWYFO1
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) October 1, 2022
“It was really hard for me to get out there [and play basketball this summer],” Thompson admitted.
“Just mentally, it was hard. It’s hard to explain. It’s like a mental block in a way. I’m gonna face it one day, but this [past] season was just so taxing. Just coming back, it was hard to win a championship, then a month later, [look to] play. It was a lot. But I’ll be [back]. I look forward to playing summer basketball again [eventually].”
In 2020 Thompson was supposed to come back from the ACL injury he suffered in the 2019 Finals, only to tear his Achilles tendon in a pickup game.
His trepidation about re-committing to something like that is totally understandable.
Besides, Thompson has been finding other ways to occupy himself this summer – namely chilling with his new girlfriend.
Olivia Dunne had herself a wild birthday party.https://t.co/z4v0mx2IDa
— Game 7 (@game7__) October 2, 2022
The Warriors have a big year ahead in 2022-23 and need Thompson to be right for it.
Whatever he needs to do in order to stay healthy is his prerogative.
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Jennifer Withers Hoey is a former Business Development Manager who transitioned to writing about sports. With valuable connections all over the West Coast, she has used those contacts to break some of the most interesting stories pertaining to the Portland Trail Blazers, Oregon Ducks, LA Lakers, LA Clippers, Seattle Supersonics (RIP), and more.
