Klay Thompson's comeback arc is perhaps one of the best sports stories of 2022. The Golden State Warriors star missed two years of competitive play due to back-to-back season-ending injuries. After a lengthy rehab period, he came back last season to help his team win their fourth NBA championship in eight years.

It wasn't a surprise, then, when Klay Thompson was given the 2022 Best Comeback Award in the ESPYs. During his acceptance speech, the Warriors star cited the late Kobe Bryant as one of his inspirations during his rehab. Thompson also made sure to praise Vanessa Bryant and her children. Vanessa would respond to Klay's kind words with her own sweet message on Instagram.

@klaythompson , you’re a class act. Thank you for your support and love for Kobe, my Gigi and our family. Thank you for always including my Gigi when you think of Kob. Congratulations.

In his acceptance speech, Klay Thompson said that he read Kobe Bryant's “Mamba Mentality” book during his rehab session. The late Lakers star underwent many grueling rehab sessions as well during the latter portions of his careers. Surely, Bryant's insights and thoughts gave Thompson the willpower to push through his struggles.

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Thompson has long been open about the mental struggles of his rehab period. Suffering another major injury just as your first injury was healed up was a brutal blow to anyone's psyche. The Warriors star could've gave up and called it quits: he's already accomplished so much in his career, after all. If he felt that he couldn't take it anymore, no one would've blamed.

Instead, Thompson put his head down and continued to work his way to an eventual return. Now, he has been rewarded for his efforts, winning another NBA ring.