Warriors’ guard Klay Thompson expects to return to the court early next season, and to play at a high level long after that.
Thompson, who is out for the season with a torn Achilles, doesn’t anticipate playing major minutes right away but is committed to getting back to being one of the best two-way guards in the league.
“I’ll be honest, I don’t expect to come back and be balls to the wall, 38 minutes a night, guarding the best player, running around 100 screens,” Thompson said in his first interview with media since his injury. “I’m going to get to that point. I guarantee that.
“I’m just trying to take it day by day, but I plan on being the All-NBA player I was. I will not settle for anything less. I’m too competitive to just take a relegated role. No, that’s not me.”
Nearly four months since tearing his Achilles during a workout in Los Angeles, Thompson is out of his walking boot and working on mobility work. Though he can’t yet run, he’s been using an underwater treadmill and swimming to keep up his cardiovascular fitness. Recently, Thompson swam in the San Francisco Bay.
“It was life changing! It was amazing!” Thompson said. “I’m going to incorporate that into my routine now. (Former Spurs forward) Tim Duncan swam his whole career and he played for 21 years. So, these last few years have allowed me to look at things and reevaluate how I train and how I diet.”
As he watches this season from the sideline, Thompson believes the Warriors are better than their current 19-19 record and will make the playoffs. That would set the stage for him and Golden State to return to title contention next season.
“I anticipate us being right back in contention for a championship again,” he said.