Klay Thompson will be suiting up for a National Basketball Association match for the first time in two and a half years. The set-to won’t be as significant on paper; a regular-season homestand against the middling Cavaliers can’t possibly compare to Game Six of the Finals. That said, it’s no less impactful for the five-time All-Star, and not just because of his ultra-competitive nature. Simply put, he lives and breathes hoops, and can’t wait to get back on the court — or, rather, has waited for so long (perhaps too long) to get back on the court.
For proof of Thompson’s desire to ply his trade anew, casual observers need only turn to his emotional reaction as patrons at the Chase Center called out his name following a late-November victory over the Blazers. For the better part of an hour, he stayed on the bench, a towel draped over his head to hide tears — of both gratitude for his continued acceptance and frustration in the face of his prolonged rehabilitation. Yet, he understood that there would be no shortcuts to convalescence from a torn right Achilles tendon during a workout in November 2020. Never mind that initial prognoses had him returning to action by the start of the 2021-22 campaign.
Again, the good news is that Thompson remains a vital part of the Warriors’ cause. Head coach Steve Kerr deems him among the most important, in fact; not for nothing will he be part of the starting lineup today. As far as the brain trust is concerned, he’s critical to the attainment of the ultimate objective. It’s one thing to be in a virtual tie for the top spot in league standings with more than half the season still to be played, and quite another to possess the roster with talent and experience to withstand any and all comers en route to the championship.
Indeed, Thompson is an all-world, all-time great, and he knows it. He seethed when he failed to crack the NBA’s 75th Anniversary squad, and he will, no doubt, use the slight as motivation to do even better. Which is why it will be foolhardy to bet against him, and against his capacity to be a pillar for the rejuvenated Warriors. They’re all the better with him around, and he may yet be the one weapon they have to be the best of the best.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications, and business development.
