SAN FRANCISCO – Golden State Warriors swingman Klay Thompson says he “kills” him for losing his second season in a row, this time because of an Achilles laceration, but the former All-Star says his rehab is going well and that he still plans on playing “for a long time”.
Speaking for the first time since suffering an Achilles laceration at the end of the series during a training session on November 18, Thompson was in a good mood as he discussed the long process he faces.
“I’m living well,” Thompson told the NBC Bay Area during Saturday night’s game between the Warriors and the Detroit Pistons. “Being back in the building I’m so eager to play in. Just a little bored at times. Things get slow in trying to let my Achilles heal and get to the next stage, which is mobility work, but I’m feeling good. I’m happy to be with my teammates, obviously.
“Unfortunately, I’m not playing. It kills me every day, but I plan to play for a long time and I don’t want any setbacks to come to this rehab.”
Thompson lost the entire 2019-20 season after tearing the ACL on his left knee during game 6 of the NBA finals against the Toronto Raptors. The Warriors hoped Thompson could help push the organization back into the championship fight, but those dreams evaporated just hours before the 2020 draft, when Thompson injured his Achilles tendon during training in Los Angeles.
As sad as the Warriors were with Thompson’s last injury, they are happy that he has been with the team more since the surgery to repair the Achilles tendon in late November. Thompson has been to several Warriors home games at the Chase Center cheering on his teammates on the bench.
Thompson acknowledged during Saturday’s game that he didn’t want to give the interview, but that the banner hanging behind him helped him change his mind.
“I didn’t want to do that, but then I saw this scenario and someone struggled to make it happen,” explained Thompson while the scenario with the hashtag #reporterKlay was on display behind him. “So I felt bad for not doing my part in the business.”
As he did last season, during a brief appearance as a side reporter, Thompson had some fun with broadcasters Bob Fitzgerald and Kelenna Azubuike during the broadcast. One of the conversations that came up revolved around Thompson’s 3-point record after he hit 14 points out of 3 in an October 2018 game against the Chicago Bulls.
“It will probably be broken here in the next few years,” said Thompson. “Steph Curry – it depends on Steph. Zach LaVine was close. But I can break it again, I don’t know. I don’t think it will last that long.”
Warriors coach Steve Kerr admitted before Saturday’s game that he did not know Thompson would appear on television, but said he would write down the appearance when he watched later.
“He’s always a lot of fun with his dry humor,” said Kerr of Thompson. “So when I watch the game tape, I will definitely turn up the volume.”