Can The Warriors Replicate Past Title Success Without Klay Thompson?
Whether you hate them or love them, you definitely have to feel for the Golden State Warriors, more in particular, Klay Thompson. After sitting out the entire 2019-20 NBA season, rehabbing from a torn ACL he suffered in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals, Thompson will miss his second-consecutive season after suffering an Achilles injury during a workout this offseason.
Not only is Thompson one of the most beloved players league-wide, but he is one of the most fun players to watch on the court when he is “in the zone.” Thompson holds the record for most three-pointers made in a single-game (14), is tied for the most three-pointers made in a half (10), is only one of four players in NBA history to have scored 50 or more points in less that 30 minutes in the shot-clock era (since 1954-55) and holds the NBA record for points in a quarter by scoring 37 points against the Sacramento Kings in 2015.
His value to the Golden State Warriors franchise is as high as any player that has ever played in the NBA and his leadership and production on the court will surely be missed this season for the Warriors. He will likely still be around on the sideline and in the locker room for this season as he rehabs from his second major injury in the last year.
The biggest question for the Warriors is where do they go from here? They brought in former No. 1 overall pick, Andrew Wiggins at the trade deadline last season to address a need on the wing since Andre Iguodala is now with the Miami Heat, and made two significant moves this offseason to go “all-in” on competing for a championship this season.
The Warriors acquired Kelly Oubre Jr. from the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for a protected first-round pick and also drafted one of the top big man prospects over the last few years in James Wiseman. Both players will be instrumental to the success of the Warriors this upcoming year, but in the end, everything falls on Stephen Curry.
If the Warriors are truly to be championship contenders in the Western Conference, Steph Curry will have to play like he did during the 2015-16 season, a year in which he was named the unanimous MVP, the first unanimous MVP in league history. If he can play at this level again and make the Warriors contend in the Western Conference, then everyone else better look out because when this man gets going, there is no stopping him.
This storyline will be one of the biggest to watch throughout the season and the potential success of the Golden State Warriors this season can have a major impact on the way the 2020-21 NBA season plays out.
