We have seen this scene many times. Klay Thompson, a competitor at heart, taking a game on his own with wrist shots and thrilling Golden State fans. This scene is familiar and yet it had a very special flavor. All that was missing was Jay-Z’s Public Service Annoucement in the background… “Allow me to reintroduce myself, my name is Klay! “
“Fans have seen him pull off this kind of performance many times but do it again after two and a half years away…” sighs Steve Kerr. “Basketball fans loved Klay before but they love him even more now because they know where he’s been. Seeing him harangue the crowd, seeing the interactions with his teammates, it goes beyond scoring shots. He brings electricity to the room and it’s really hard to quantify what that represents. “
20 points on average in February
By scoring 16 of his 33 points in the last quarter to crucify the Lakers, Klay Thompson would almost make us forget that he returned to competition only 34 days ago after an absence of more than 900 days, and that the game of that night was only his 14th of the season! After a cruciate ligament rupture in his left knee and a ruptured Achilles tendon, no one expected to see Klay Thompson return to this level so quickly, and yet here we are.
” It’s really special because you have no idea how much time I spent here alone, working so I could come back, described the back, very proud to achieve this perf ‘under the eyes of his father. ” Being able to do that… it gives me even more determination and desire to keep working. “
In four games in February, Klay Thompson is shooting more than 20 points per game, 48% on shots and 50% from 3-pointers. His playing time can now reach 30 minutes and the interested party explained that his extra minutes and the sequence of matches help him find his rhythm.
“I feel much better than in the first five games. My stamina is better, I’m in better shape, and it’s easier to find my rhythm because I’m playing longer. I shoot without hesitation, I’m more comfortable reading the game with my cuts, and just playing is an exceptional feeling. After everything that happened, scoring 30 points is something I’m proud of. “
“Far from being satisfied…”
Besides the performance itself, the Warriors needed an incandescent Klay Thompson to be able to snatch victory. His mindset, his confidence and his desire to win are three aspects of his return that also benefit the Warriors. It was Austin Reaves’ counter with six minutes remaining in the final quarter that created the spark Klay Thompson needed to catch fire.
” Scoring a 2+1 right after eating a block against the board was important because it showed the defense that this block didn’t affect me mentally.,” he described. He then scored three game-winning shots but also kept his direct opponents 1-of-6 on shots in the final quarter.
It was this state of mind that made the difference tonight. This refusal to lose the match also came from the bitter taste of this missed shot at the buzzer against the Knicks.
” He’s a competitor. It’s a baller,” summed up Stephen Curry. ” It reflects all the work he has done, and all the confidence he has. He has an energy that has been contagious every day since he came back. And tonight, it was a shot he missed that tipped me off. Given his confidence in that precise moment, I knew he was on a mission.“
As the Warriors eagerly await the All-Star Game break, those kinds of wins are also the hallmark of great teams. The defense was out of date, the offense was stagnant but Klay Thompson found a way to get this victory, whatever the cost.
” A match like that feels really good!, “he finished before adding a layer that will make Golden State fans smile and the rest of the league shudder. ” But I’m far from satisfied…“
Interview in San Francisco.
