Klay Thompson Update: Imminent Return From Injury Boosts Warriors' Championship Hopes

The Golden State Warriors’ hot start is a scary sign for the rest of the NBA. Tied atop the Western Conference with a 6-1 record, the Warriors are only going to get better when their second-best player finally steps back on the court.

Klay Thompson hasn’t played since Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals because of a torn ACL he suffered in the series and a ruptured Achilles that occurred one year ago. The latest update from Warriors head coach Steve Kerr suggests that Thompson isn’t far from rejoining Golden State’s roster.

“Klay’s imminent return is a huge factor for our team,” Kerr told reporters Tuesday. “There’s a sense of anticipation and energy that is directly linked to Klay’s return.”

Thompson is making progress as he works out individually. The three-time champion is expected to be cleared to practice fully with the team at some point within the next few weeks. There have been reports that the Warriors are targeting Christmas as a potential date for Thompson to play his first game.

It remains to be seen how effective Thompson might be after two serious injuries and 2 1/2 years away from NBA action. One of the greatest shooters of all time, Thompson was an All-Star in each of his last five full seasons. For his career, Thompson averages 19.5 points per game on 41.9% shooting from three-point range.

“On the injury front, we’re seeing his progress,” Kerr said. “It’s more incremental, more week to week rather than day to day. But we can see him getting stronger, getting more comfortable and getting quicker with his cutting and lateral movement. It’s all very exciting. We’re thrilled to at least, finally, have the light at the end of the tunnel.”

The Warriors are viewed as one of the biggest threats in the West to the Los Angeles Lakers, the overwhelming betting favorites to win the conference. Golden State has already beaten three teams that made the 2021 playoffs, including the Lakers.

Stephen Curry remains one of the league’s top superstars, scoring 26.7 points per game. Curry finished third in last season’s MVP race. In Thompson’s absence, third-year shooting guard Jordan Poole is the Warriors’ second-leading scorer with 16.4 points per game.

Golden State has missed the playoffs in two straight seasons after making the NBA Finals each year from 2015-2019.