Expectations will be different for the Golden State Warriors next season. Once Klay Thompson injured his Achilles last November, no one expected the Dubs to be a championship contender.
Thompson hasn’t played an NBA game since June of 2019. General manager Bob Myers says the plan is to have the five-time All-Star return to the lineup early next season.
Along with Thompson, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green will try and lead the Warriors back into title contention. We don’t know what to expect from Thompson next season. He will have missed roughly 2.5 years of game action.
But Klay is confident he will be close to the same player he was before suffering the two serious injuries. Thompson went on Instagram live while he took his boat out for a ride in the Bay. He was asked by a fan how many points per game he will average next season, and one follower suggest 28 points per game (h/t NBC Bay Area).
“Twenty-eight points per game?! That’s a lot man,” Thompson said. “I’m going to take a dub and some great defense, how about that? Fifty, 40, 90, that’s the goal.”
Thompson later said all he wants to do is help Golden State win some games.
“How many points am I going to average next year? You know, I’m not going to put an expectation on it. I just want to be an efficient player. I want to have a positive impact on the hardwood. That real plus-minus stuff. That analytical stuff, you feel me?”
#CaptainKlay “that real plus/minus stuff” pic.twitter.com/ipOKAFq1Dv
— warriorsworld (@warriorsworld) June 5, 2021
The good news is that Andrew Wiggins’ presence on the roster will take some pressure off Thompson on the defensive end. Before he was injured, Klay routinely guarded the opposing teams’ best player. With Wiggins proving he can handle his own defensively, the Warriors will be able to take their time getting Thompson back into game shape.
Thompson has played eight seasons for the Warriors, averaging 19.5 points per game and shoots 41.9 percent from beyond the arc. With Thompson and Curry back on the court together, Golden State should once again have one of the most potent offenses in the league.
What do you think are realistic expectations for Thompson once he returns?
On to some links:
The NBA playoffs are in full swing, but we haven’t seen any major upsets in the first round. Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report goes over the eight biggest upsets in postseason history, and it’s no surprise to see which underdog tops the list.
Could the Warriors use their pair of first-round picks to acquire another superstar? Heavy.com’s Max Dible explores how Golden State could land Bradley Beal.
Draymond has been excellent while filling in as a studio analyst during TNT’s NBA playoffs broadcasts. The Dubs forward spoke about several topics, including what it’s like being considered a villain. (Clutch Points)