Warriors wing Klay Thompson sourced input from a variety of his NBA colleagues across the league, past and present, while rehabilitating from back-to-back season-ending injuries, writes Mark Medina of NBA.com. Thompson tore his ACL during the 2019 NBA Finals, and subsequently tore his Achilles while ramping up for the 2020/21 season.
“So many people count you out when you go through an injury like this,” Hall-of-Famer Dominique Wilkins, who consulted with Thompson, told Medina. “You know your heart. You just got to stay focused, diligent and tough. You can get back from this.”
Wilkins suffered an Achilles tear while playing for the Hawks, but ultimately returned to his All-Star form afterwords.
Thompson also maintained a dialogue over text with former Warriors teammate Kevin Durant, now with the Nets. Durant tore his Achilles while with Golden State during the 2019 postseason.
“It’s inspiring to watch him and see him look the exact same way prior to the injury,” Thompson said in praising his teammate. “It’s a testament not only to his willpower but his skill level. He might lose a little quickness or a little bounce. But you’ll never lose the ability to put the ball in the hole.”
The 31-year-old five-time All-Star also spoke with Grant Hill and Rudy Gay about their own recoveries from major injuries. Thompson is averaging 17.1 PPG with a reduced minutes load this season as he continues to work his way back, hoping to reclaim his All-Star form come playoff time.
There’s more out of the Pacific Division:
- Given that the perpetually rebuilding Kings cannot necessarily rely on big-ticket free agency additions as a small market franchise, Chris Binderman of the Sacramento Bee wonders if Sacramento could benefit from taking a page out of the Nuggets‘ playbook when it comes to adding and developing talent.
- The 27-32 Lakers find themselves facing an uncertain future after going all-in on Russell Westbrook in a trade this summer. Although LeBron James appeared to voice his relative apathy about a long-term future in Los Angeles during the 2022 All-Star Weekend festivities, he has since expressed his commitment to the team. When Bill Oram of The Athletic openly hypothesized that James might not want to remain with the Lakers beyond the end of his current deal, James retorted in comments to the press. “Anytime Bill says anything about the Lakers it’s going to be negative,” James said. “So, I hope no one in the Lakers faithful listens to Bill Oram. I hope not. He hasn’t said one great thing about the Lakers in so long.” In a new piece for The Athletic, Oram opines that James himself was responsible for the latest rumblings.
- Lakers owner Jeanie Buss, GM Rob Pelinka, and James’ longtime agent Rich Paul met this week to discuss everyone’s feelings surrounding their team-building strategy. Sam Amick of The Athletic provides more details on the group’s conversation.
The media, too often, comes across as desperately trying to justify their worth by trying to create drama rather than simply reporting. That is not isolated to sports, of course.
They only do it because people eat it up. So, stop paying attention to it. It ain’t the media’s fault. The people want it.
no one’s forcing then to pander.
W for Oram nonetheless
Bait, hook, then deliver the deadly club~ Flawless execution
Nevermind the foundation (story) is built on straw, and the mud roof won’t keep the rain out long.
His work has been accomplished, and with future contributions like these he can probably even get a nice pay raise for himself soon.
Yeah but the third piggy got his hooves on some bricks somehow…I’m still not sure how any of them built anything without hands. I suppose Charlotte influenced a few humans. I can see it now…”Build it and they will come” right there in her web. That really was some pig…fooled many into thinking Field of Dreams was a great movie.
This story has no bricks, just straw and mud/feces
But if they wanted bricks, Russ’s locker isn’t too far away to get the goods
Don’t worry Westbrook will supply the bricks.
Wiggins should play more minutes than Klay till he recovers fully
Have you been watching tonight’s game. Wiggins is horrible !!!!
I was so happy for Wiggins he was having a great year stepping up to the plate, shooting a higher percentage than ever and having an All-Star season.
But it’s games like tonight I just want to throw my remote at the TV. He’ll probably wind up with his 20 points and his 6-15 or whatever it’s going to be.., I don’t even know but the guy is missing a thousand shots and he’s not stepping up with Klay out.
This is what I mean he’s not a fourth-quarter player. It seem like I’ve seen him miss four shots in a row when they really need him to score.
+21 Kerr’rotation killed his 1st half vibe too, but i agree he was really bad in the 4th like the rest of the team…
Did the CCP get invited to the Lakers/Lebron meeting?
The more you say it the funnier it gets…not!
I doubt most people read the Oram piece; it is behind a paywall. It was a piece only deserving of an irrational hater. Bill Oram sounded like he wanted to lead a revolution of pitchfork-wavers, nevermind anything true or that even makes sense.
Sam Amick of Cleveland did a similar anti-LJ and got some fame a few years ago, but his report on the Pelinki-Klutch meeting had little slant.
The Lakers are stuck in the middle and their fans are spoiled and the star is aging. A scapegoat is needed.
Somebody should own up to the RW trade; the silent treatment just allows to mob to go wild.
Championship or bust in Laker Land every year bro the rest of the league can do whatever they want I will take the LA way every time