With just a few weeks to go before the start of the season, Klay Thompson wants everyone to know where he stands. In a short but simple message on his Instagram story, the Warriors legend wrote the words “It’s just me against the world baby” as a reference to 2Pac’s legendary album from 1995. Below the quote, he added some words of his own: “The type of energy I’m on all season.”
Klay Thompson on IG 👀 pic.twitter.com/tVBQVQNuww
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 16, 2023
We’re in mid-October now, and it’s the time of year when teams and players are ramping up for the new season. With so many factors to consider, it’s impossible to say how the West will shake up this year, but Klay is one of many stars to feel good about his chances going in. The question is, can he live up to his own standards, or will his long history of injuries finally catch up to him?
Klay Wants Redemption After Disappointing Season
As a 5x All-Star, 2x All-NBA player, and 4x NBA champion, Klay Thompson has already secured his place in the NBA history books, but his play has been on the decline trend since his Finals injury in 2019. Initially, Thompson suffered a torn ACL that forced him to sit for the entirety of the following season. Things only got worse when his comeback was interrupted by an Achilles rupture, which sidelined him for another full season. After two serious injuries like that, nobody was surprised when Thompson’s shooting percentage went from 46% in 2019 to 42% in 2022. There was also a slip on the defensive side, where Klay was notoriously gifted.
While these declines were somewhat nullified when the Warriors won the championship in 2022, there are still some serious questions about Klay and how much left he has left in the tank for his 11th NBA season. With Steph or without, Golden State needs Klay at his best if they want to keep up with the rest of the West, and the pressure is on for him to answer the call.
Klay’s Future Is Uncertain
Thought to be a Warriors lifer, Klay Thompson was considered a lock to secure a new long-term deal with Golden State this year. But according to new reports on the situation, extension talks have stalled, and there’s a chance that the former 11th overall pick could hit unrestricted free agency as early as 2024. Needless to say, teams across the league will be monitoring the situation with hopes that Thompson might actually become available next June. So far, the odds are still pretty slim, but another unsuccessful season from the Warriors could prompt some serious changes across the organization.
Even for the 2023-24 campaign, it’s unsure what to expect from the Warriors. With Klay, Steph, and Draymond nearing their twilight years, the end of their run seems to be close in hand at this point. To stay together, it will take a focused and complete effort from everyone on the team, and especially from Thompson. After averaging 21.9 points and 4.1 rebounds last season, Klay will have to channel the best version of himself in 2023-24 — and he seems more than up for the challenge.
We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.
Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.
