SUMMARY
- Klay Thompson had an incredible 32-point game against the Utah Jazz while Steph Curry was sidelined from the Warriors' lineup.
- Thompson gave himself props for appearing in 74 games despite a two-year layoff due to injuries.
Klay Thompson initially witnessed one of his worst seasons statistically, but he’s been getting into a groove lately. The Golden State Warriors have been fighting for a Play-In Tournament berth. But now that the Houston Rockets have experienced a few losses, they’ve been handed over a second chance for a playoff run. But their success in the Play-Ins is still a major question mark due to the emergence of the LA Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans.
32 PTS | 6 3PM @KlayThompson got buckets on #WarriorsGround pic.twitter.com/7fOcNNGPQr
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) April 8, 2024
Thompson recently helped the Warriors acquire a solid victory against the Utah Jazz. Steph Curry was sidelined. While most fans would want to assume that he’s injured, the Warriors rested him for precautionary’s sake. Thompson led the team by scoring 32 points. The Warriors had a completely different lineup bringing Jonathan Kuminga off the bench and putting Chris Paul in the starting lineup.
Klay Thompson regains his durability despite a two-year layoff
After the game, Klay Thompson took a moment to recognize the amount of games he has appeared in this season despite having a two-year-long layoff. Unlike most stars who keep a hefty eye on their injuries, Thompson hasn’t taken much time off. During the post-game press conference, he said, “What did I miss, maybe 3 or 4 games this year? That’s incredible after two years of rehab. That’s something I can hang my hat on and be proud of, just being durable throughout the season.”
“What did i miss, maybe 3 or 4 games this year… that’s something i can hang my hat on, just being durable throughout the season.”
Klay Thompson talks about how this season has been relatively injury free for him 🗣
(via @NBCSWarriors) pic.twitter.com/u2D2pUA2j8
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 8, 2024
Thompson has appeared for 74 games out of 78 possible appearances. The Warriors have four games left in the season as well. To put this into perspective, Thompson was one of the most consistent players on the floor before his injuries. After returning, he played 32 games during the 2021-22 season, and 69 games in the last season. Curry has only appeared in under 70 games since the 2018-19 season besides the ongoing campaign. Between 2012 and 2019, Thompson for at least 80 games thrice over 70 games in the other seasons.
The Warriors’ future success heavily relies on Klay Thompson
The Warriors are far more successful with Klay Thompson being lethal on offense. Over the years, Thompson has also established himself as a good defender as well. As the Warriors move into the Play-Ins and possibly the post-season, his presence on the floor will be valuable. This season, the 4x NBA Champion has averaged 17.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game.
Thompson seems to be averaging better numbers now than he did before. Since the 2024 All-Star break, he’s averaged 18.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. In the playoffs, Thompson has to step up his game and put out his usual 19.2 points, 4 rebounds, and 2.2 assists during the playoffs. This determines how far the Warriors manage to go in the playoffs or if they get past the Play-Ins.