The Golden State Warriors are atop the NBA with a record of 16-2. They have the look of a championship contender once again as they are well on their way to snapping the two-year streak of missing the playoffs.
They are No. 2 in offensive rating and No. 1 in defensive rating according to Basketball-Reference. Golden State is near the top of the league in nearly every team statistical category as they score with ease and make life extremely difficult for opposing offenses.
The only area they aren’t elite in is in turning the ball over and committing personal fouls. They do a little too much of both, yet are still one of the most dangerous offensive teams in the NBA. The scariest part is that this team isn’t in peak form when it comes to their depth.
In a few weeks, the Warriors will be getting former All-NBA performer Klay Thompson back in the mix. Thompson has not appeared in an NBA game since Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors. He suffered a torn ACL in that game and in November of 2020, he ruptured his Achilles.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Warriors’ Klay Thompson Speaks Out On First Full Practice In Two Years
It has been a long, arduous road back for Thompson, but he is nearing a return to the court. Thompson will likely need some time to knock off the rust, but you can be sure he is putting in the work to return to the form he was in before the injury, as he does not want to play at anything less.
“I don’t want to come back and be a shell of myself, I want to come back like I was last time I was playing, and I was one of the best players in the world,” Thompson said.
Before the injury, Thompson was one of the most feared 3-point shooters in the NBA. He and Stephen Curry gave opponents headaches on a nightly basis as they rained down 3-pointers from all over the court, earning the nickname the Splash Brothers.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Warriors’ Klay Thompson Speaks Out On First Full Practice In Two Years
In addition to that, Thompson was one of the best defenders in the NBA. He was a two-way star that was excellent in his role. He was an integral part of the team’s championship runs and is expecting the team to be contenders once again this season.
“Now, he insists, “it’s championship or bust” for the 15-2 Warriors.
“And I’m not even out there yet, think about that, really think about that,” he said, emphatically putting his left hand to the podium to make his point. “I’m more motivated than ever as well. I want a championship so bad, more than anything.”
Getting a healthy Klay Thompson back in the fold will make the Golden State Warriors that much more dangerous of a team. It is hard to imagine the team getting better, but when you add someone the caliber of Thompson to the mix, the sky is the limit.
