Golden State Warriors' Klay Thompson did everything he could to help his team stave off elimination from the NBA Finals in Game 6. However, things didn't go well for the All-Star guard as he suffered an ACL injury in the third quarter of the contest. However, as he was on his way to the locker room, he decided to come back and shoot two free throws before leaving the game for good.
Former Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant acknowledged what Thompson did via Twitter.
Real recognize real. We miss you, Kobe! pic.twitter.com/JMZmnKbP9r
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 14, 2019
Of course, Bryant was in a similar situation back in 2012 when he tore his Achilles against the Warriors. He shot two free throws before being helped off the court.
Just like what most fans usually say, real recognizes real.
Thompson was the Warriors' driving force in Game 6. He and his teammates already knew that Kevin Durant will be out for the entirety of next season because of a ruptured Achilles, so they wanted to win for him and for the fans.
Klay already had 28 points with less than three minutes left in the third quarter, and he was about to score another bucket on a fastbreak attempt when Toronto Raptors guard Danny Green attempted to block his shot. Thompson was fouled but he landed awkwardly on the floor. He was told that he wouldn't be able to return to the game unless he shoots his free throws.
Not knowing the severity of his injury at that time, the sharpshooting guard nailed two shots from the charity stripe. He even told head coach Steve Kerr that he just needed two minutes of rest and then he could go back and play.
But he never did.
A few moments later, Thompson went out of the locker room in crutches.
Still, Thompson showed the entire world that even in defeat, he had the heart of a champion. And he gained the respect of the Black Mamba in the process.
Follow Us
Subscribe