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Despite a potentially career-altering injury suffered at a crucial moment, the Golden State Warriors showed Klay Thompson the ultimate loyalty by doling out all $190 million over five years — a max contract for a player with eight years of service and a massive reason why the Warriors made a fifth consecutive trip to the NBA Finals, even without Kevin Durant for half of that stretch.
Thompson discussed his appreciation for the contract offer:
“I can’t complain, man,” Thompson said of his summer, according to Mark Medina of USA TODAY Sports. “The Warriors showed their loyalty by paying me. I just can’t wait to get back to work, whenever that is.”
Thompson is not expected to be back from his torn ACL just yet, but rather aiming at the All-Star break as a potential timeline for his return. His father Mychal Thompson said that “by January or February, he’ll know exactly where he’ll stand.”
The sharpshooter noted he is still in the “grassroots stages” of his recovery after undergoing surgery in July. The goal upon returning, though, has stayed the same:
“We won championships. So I always expect to win a championship,” said Thompson, who will come back to a team with only part of the previous championship core. “Nothing short of that.”
It is Thompson's eventual return that will ultimately dictate the success of this Warriors team for the upcoming season, as qualifying and thriving in the playoffs will hinge on his ability to produce at both ends of the floor once he's deemed fit to take the floor again.