After missing 2 1/2 seasons with knee and Achilles injuries, Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson is back against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Chase Center, the player announced on Instagram.
Golden State Warriors
Miami Heat
Dallas Mavericks
New Orleans Pelicans
Cleveland Cavaliers
Memphis Grizzlies
Milwaukee Bucks
Chicago BullsThe game will mark 941 days since the three-time champion last played in an NBA game.
Thompson suffered a torn left ACL in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals and was rehabilitated to full strength while missing the 2019-20 season. He then suffered a torn Achilles tendon in a pickup game in November 2020, sidelining him for the entire 2020-21 season.
Thompson has been scrimmaging unrestrained since mid-November, slowly increasing his minutes to build up his endurance. In a recent interview with BasketNews, former Rockets and Cavs guard Dante Exum, who was among Thompson's first five-on-five games, said he thinks that the 31-year-old guard will get back on track at 100 percent.
"Playing five-on-five with him was really good. I guarded him, and he's looking good, moving well," the current FC Barcelona player contended.
"Obviously, he can shoot the ball lights out. So, I have no doubt that he'll get back to where he was."
Warriors coach Steve Kerr said he expects Thompson to start and play 15 to 20 minutes in his return and that he will likely rest on one side of back-to-backs as he finds his rhythm.
A five-time All-Star, Thompson helped the Warriors win three NBA titles in 2015, 2017 and 2018. Golden State advanced to the NBA Finals in five consecutive seasons with Thompson and Stephen Curry teamed in the backcourt but did not make the playoffs in the two full seasons Thompson was away.
The 31-year-old Southern California native has averaged 19.5 points over eight seasons, all with the Warriors. He averaged at least 20 points in each of his last five seasons and is a career 41.9-percent shooter from 3-point range.
Thompson set the NBA record with 14 made 3-pointers in a game Oct. 29, 2018, against the Chicago Bulls.
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