Bob Meyers gives latest update on Thompson’s recovery
Klay Thompson appears to be making progress from a torn Achilles tendon but Warriors general manager Bob Myers warned that the five-time NBA All-Star’s return may not happen until late this year, or possibly even early 2022.
Thompson tore the Achilles tendon in November 2020, keeping him sidelined for a second straight season after he missed 2019-20 with a torn ACL. Myers said the Warriors will have a better sense of where Thompson is from a physical standpoint once training camp begins in the fall.
Myers said Thompson should be playing 5-on-5 by September training camp, but stressed there a difference between that and taking the court in an NBA game.
“That’s what we’re going to have to figure out — when the right time for that is,” Myers told NBC Sports Bay Area. “I think we’ve set on record, I don’t think it’ll be the first game of the season in October. Will it be Thanksgiving? Will it be Christmas? I think it’s more likely December. But I don’t know when. It’s hard to gauge. It depends on how he meets all of these hurdles in his rehab.
“But I do know this: The guy’s in there every day, he’s working his rear end off and he’s thirsting to get back on the court. He loves basketball. No doubt how much he can help us.”
In a series of photos he posted to his Instagram account Tuesday, Thompson, with a bright yellow headband around longer-thanusual hair, completed a light workout at Chase Center, jogging up and down the court, shooting mid-range jumpers and 3-pointers, even messing around with a sky hook.
“DubNation , I still have a really long , long , LOOOONG way to go. But my goodness, it felt so dang good to get up and down and see the ball go thru the net,” Thompson wrote. “Can’t wait to burn em down next year!! Big milestone for me this week #jackiemoon #wetfire.”
Kevin Durant then chimed in with, “Shortbread,” a Thompson saying for whenever a jump shot hits the front rim.
Former Warrior Ian Clark added, “Hook shot? Never seen it! ”
In late April, when fans were allowed inside the Warriors’ home arena for the first time in over a year, Thompson’s frustration with how much time he’s had to miss became evident.
“(Thompson) did have a tough game,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said at the time. “I think it was in large part because fans were back, and my observation anyway is it hit him really hard, how much he’s missing and how much he has lost over the last year and a half. It’s not easy to deal with.”
“If he comes back in December or November or January, whenever it is, he will be ready come playoff time, or as ready as he can be, and then you’ve got something,” Myers said Tuesday.
“So we’d love him to come back as soon as he can. The West is a monster and it seems like the league’s never had more parity. But we won’t rush him back, so when he’s back, he’s back, and can’t wait to see it.”