Warriors G Klay Thompson Aiming For Return In November/December

It's been over two years since Warriors guard Klay Thompson has played in an NBA game, but that is scheduled to change this season.

It could be as early as November, which Thompson says is best case scenario.

“Don’t have a set date, but I don’t anticipate anything before 12 months. That’s at least till late November, early December,” Thompson said to Yahoo Sports. “And then it’s kind of just a feel thing, you know. It’s a lot of conditioning that I have to do, but there is an end point and that’s what excites me.”

Thompson, 31, originally suffered a torn ACL in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals. The five-time All Star worked his way to get back for the start of the 2020-2021 regular season before he tore his right Achilles during a workout in Nov. 2020. It was a brutal blow for both Thompson and the Warriors, who count on Thompson to be able to compete for championships.

That and playing alongside fellow splash brother Stephen Curry, who led the league in scoring last season, averaging 32.0 points per game. But Curry knows the team needs Thompson, and he's looking forward to him coming back a month or two into the season.

“Obviously, I’ve seen it just in how he’s attacked this rehab versus the last one,” Curry said. “I know there’s circumstances you couldn’t control with the pandemic and being away from staff and whatnot. But just his commitment to this process, understanding the sense of urgency of doing everything first class so that he gives himself the best chance to get back to 2019 Klay.”

The Warriors are looking to get the band back together with Thompson and one other key contributor from the 2015, 2017 and 2018 championship teams back in the fold. General manager Bob Myers has brought in 37-year-old forward Andre Iguodala for a second stint in Golden State. Iguodala was the 2015 NBA Finals MVP but parted from the Warriors and was a key member of the Heat the past two seasons.

That's a lot more familiarity for head coach Steve Kerr, who looks to get the dynasty back on track. This year could be pivotal in the future direction of the franchise, as stalwarts Curry, Thompson and forward Draymond Green are all in their thirties.