NBA: Warriors GM Explains Klay Thompson Return Timeline, Guard Reveals Plan

Klay Thompson could miss most if not all of the 2019-20 campaign after suffering an ACL injury during Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals which the Toronto Raptors won in six games. The shooting guard admitted recently that had it not been for the injury, the Golden State Warriors would have completed the three-peat they were seeking.

The three-time NBA champion underwent surgery on July 2 to repair the anterior cruciate ligament and is now facing at least eight months on the sidelines. Thompson is expected to return before the end of the season but Warriors general manager revealed that the next update will come during February’s All-Star break.

There is no certainty that he will make his return in March but he will continue the rehabilitation process in the hope of making a quick return. The Warriors are also without Kevin Durant, who left in the summer to join Brooklyn Nets and most of the burden will have to be shouldered by Stephen Curry despite the addition of young All-Star D’Angelo Russell.

"He's doing fine," general manager Bob Myers said at Monday's media day, as quoted on Sports Illustrated. "We'll have another update on him probably around the All-Star break. Don't construe that as if we think he'll be back by the All-Star break—that just means we'll have an update then."

Thompson said he has made “huge strides” since undergoing the surgery but made it clear that he will not rush his return. The shooting guard is keen to play well into his late 30’s in the NBA and he is not willing to jeopardize his career by risking permanent damage with an early return.

The All-Star is keen to go through all the processes of his rehabilitation and only return when there is no chance of a relapse. Durant’s Achillies injury 12 minutes after he returned from a month-long calf injury during the 2019 NBA Final will be reminder enough about the damages of rushing back from injury.

"I've made huge strides,” Thompson said. "The last thing you want to do is rush back, especially for a player like me who wants to play `til his late 30s.”