Sure, he’s Klay Thompson’s dad, but Mychal Thompson knows a little about basketball too and he has some good news for Warriors’ fans.
“Him and Steph Curry,” the elder Thompson said, “will pick up right where they left off.”
Mychal Thompson made the declaration this week during an interview with a Minneapolis radio station. He also provided an update on Klay, whose season ended before it began when he tore his right Achilles tendon during a private workout in November. Thompson missed all of last season too, rehabbing from the torn left ACL he suffered in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals against Toronto.
“Physically, he’s going to come around. Emotionally is where it’s tough,” Mychal Thompson told NewsTalk 830 in Minneapolis. “Mentally, having to sit out two straight years because of a major injury when he’s in his prime. That’s very frustrating.”
At the point of his first injury, Thompson, who turns 31 next month, was playing the best basketball of his career and stood as a paragon of of durability. He had played in 549 of 574 games from 2012-19.
The second devastating injury came after 17 months of rehabbing the first injury.
Thompson, who underwent surgery and began his rehab in Orange County, recently rejoined the Warriors. Once being counted on to help lead the way back from last season’s 15-50 disaster, Thompson does what he can from behind the team’s bench at home games.
He had important business Monday night, maybe even played a small part in the Warriors 130-108 victory. James Wiseman, the prized 19-year-old rookie, was out of the starting lineup for the first time this season, benched for maybe the first time in his life.
Thompson, wearing khakis, a jacket and a mask, leaned over to Wiseman in the opening minutes of the game. He had some advice for Wiseman in his new role: Play aggressively, prioritize being a great teammate and, most importantly, take care of your body.
Wiseman played 16 minutes Monday night. He had 13 points, four rebounds and two blocked shots.
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