The aim by the Golden State Warriors to contend for the NBA title next season could be in peril as the team confirmed that Klay Thompson suffered a new leg injury. The shooting guard will be subjected to an MRI test but reports suggested he might have hurt his Achilles while working out.
The Warriors said that Thompson was practicing on Wednesday with other players and discovered that his right leg was unable to put weight. The 30-year-old tore his ACL in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals and was forced to skip the last season.
He is again in danger of extending his forced vacation but the extent of Thompson's new injury will not be known until after Thursday. According to SB Nation, the GSW star will undergo an MRI on the morning of the same day but it's not clear if the results will be returned immediately.
It is suspected, however, that the injury suffered by Thompson is a serious Achilles injury basing on the pain he felt on his calf. If the fears will prove correct, it's highly likely that Thompson will be sidelined anew for quite a long time.
The same report suggested that the Warriors will unlikely welcome Thompson back to the roster next season. The 5-time All-Star having an Achilles injury could mean that he will be out for another 12 months at the very least. But it should be noted that nothing is definite at the moment though the Warriors appeared to be preparing for the worst.
Before his ACL injury in 2019, Thompson proved to be one of the cornerstones of the Warriors franchise. His more than 21 points per game and shooting accuracy of 46.7% played a big part in the Dubs' five consecutive NBA Finals appearances and winning three of the series.
So losing him again next season will be a huge blow for the Bay Area team but one piece of good news is the assurance that a healthy Stephen Curry is raring for a comeback when the NBA games resume in December. The team can also count on the versatility of Draymond Green, who is poised to play 100% for the next campaign.
And if indeed Thompson will be out of action for another full season, the Warriors can expect Andrew Wiggins, acquired from the Minnesota Timberwolves in January, to step up on his game and fill in the void that his teammate's absence will create, according to Bleacher Report.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr can also make key roster adjustments in the offseason and bring in reinforcements. The team is believed ready to use their No. 2 pick in the draft to trade for a veteran star, which should deliver a quick answer that will solve the problem to be created by Thompson's latest injury.
