SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors swingman Klay Thompson is starting to look less swift as he recovers from a right Achilles tendon injury. Thompson attended his first official team training session since injured in offseason training on November 18, 2020, where he hit a full-court shot that pleased his teammates and coaches.
"Klay looks great," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said after Tuesday's team's first training session. "Turn off the lights and shoot. His team won the Daily Shooting Tournament. He smiled, laughed, joked, and it was really funny to see old Clay come back. ”
Thompson has not played in the NBA since June 13, 2019, as he tore his left knee anterior cruciate ligament in Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors and has been bouncing around the team's facilities in recent days. Because he's looking forward to having the opportunity to play again.
"Everyone was excited for Clay to be on the pitch," Kerr said. "He did basically everything in training today. We didn't have scuffles, we didn't have any live contact, but Clay was happy to be in the game and we were all happy to see him in it. So just a really good first day, the first few days, and good energy when we start rolling. ”
While Thompson's return is still months away, Kerr admitted the former All-Star's presence in training has made the rest of his team emotional.
"Part of it is his spirit, his energy and his joy," Cole said. "A big part of it was, too, 'Yeah, we got Clay.'" "The level of confidence as a whole – we got Clay back. It makes us all feel better. That's how I get from our players. ”
While the Warriors were hesitant about a specific date of his return as Thompson continued to recover, Warriors general manager Bob Myers said on Monday's media day that the organization hoped that at some point, possibly in December or January, Thompson would come to the Warriors' coach and front desk and say he was ready to play again — in consultation with the Warriors' medical staff.
Thompson noted Monday that in terms of rehabilitation, "I've probably done 75 or 80 percent of what I need to do." Either way, the Warriors are happy that Thompson is getting closer and closer to returning — they can see that the two-career-changing injury extended recovery process has allowed the 31-year-old to take on the game, and the world around him, and more.
"I think his departure caused him a lot of pain," Cole said. "Because his favorite things were taken away from him. This is the first time ever that this has happened. So, when he's not there, he has to go through some struggles that may illuminate some of the struggles that other people have every day. So growing up and expanding emotionally at that age is a very natural time. None of this surprises me given what we've known about Clay over the years.
"He was a compassionate, conscious man. He just doesn't always show this to the world. ”