Dr. Tim Hewett, an expert knee doctor who spent the bulk of his career studying the biomechanics of the knee, says Golden State Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson should sit out two years.

Thompson tore his left ACL in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals. Dr. Hewett and Dr. Christopher Nagelli did a study which showed athletes who suffer ACL tears should not return to action for two years.

Via Sean Deveney of Heavy:

Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors says he would like to play for Team USA in the 2020 Olympics. One problem: Thompson should not play high-level basketball at all, not for two years.

At least that’s what the science says.

A paper presented by Dr. Tim Hewett, a consultant who spent the bulk of his career studying the biomechanics of the knee for the Mayo Clinic and as the director of Ohio State’s Sports Health and Performance Institute, and Dr. Christopher Nagelli of the Mayo Clinic, finds that athletes who suffer ACL tears should not return to action for two years.

“Please do share that with Klay,” Dr. Hewett, who has consulted with NBA trainers in the past, told Heavy.com. “This is not my opinion. People say to me, ‘Well, that is your opinion, there are other opinions.’ No, I deal in science and I deal in fact. People don’t like to hear it but it does not change the facts, and that facts are that you’re at risk for re-injury before two years and you won’t be the same player in the first year.”

The Warriors are going to be cautious with Thompson since they gave him a five-year max contract this summer worth $190 million. Klay’s long-term health is very important to the organization.

Thompson averaged 21.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists for the Warriors last season. The five-time All-Star shot 46.7 percent from the field, 40.2 percent from beyond the arc and 81.6 percent from the free-throw line.