- Klay Thompson tore his Achilles on Wednesday, 17 months after tearing his ACL in the 2019 Finals. He will miss the 2020-21 season.
- Warriors GM Bob Myers said Thompson is so "beloved" in the NBA that a rival coach called to offer his condolences.
- The Warriors were expected to get back in the playoff mix, but Thompson's injury and the lack of viable replacements likely ends this era of Warriors basketball.
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Klay Thompson suffered a devastating setback in his return to the court this week.
Thompson reportedly tore his Achilles tendon in his right leg and will miss the 2020-21 season. Thompson tore his ACL in his left leg in June 2019 during Game 6 of the NBA Finals and missed all of the 2019-20 season.
The NBA world was heartbroken by the news. Thompson is one of the most beloved players in the league thanks to his sweet shooting stroke, tireless defense, and lax personality off the court. He will now miss two full seasons of his prime.
On Thursday, Warriors General Manager Bob Myers even told reporters that a rival coach offered his condolences on Thompson's injury.
"I talked to somebody today, an opposing coach just called me who I really admire and respect, and called and said 'I'm very sorry about Klay,'" Myers said.
He added: "How your peers feel about you in life, I think says more than anything else. And I really believe that. And I think that [Klay] is admired within. He's admired without. And you can't put in words what he means to our team. What he means to our fans, our coaching staff, his teammates."
Myers said he believes Thompson and Derrick Rose are two of the most "beloved" players in the league.
"I said I think there's two players in the NBA that everybody likes and respects without a doubt. And I'm going to say the other guy's name. I don't think I'm going to get in trouble … I think it's Klay Thompson and Derrick Rose. Those two guys, I think, are universally beloved."
Thompson is an irreplaceable part of the Warriors' core. Thompson's shooting and constant motion on offense create nightmares for opposing defenses also trying to track Stephen Curry. On the other end, he has transformed into an elite defender who guards the opposing team's best wing. The Warriors' system simply isn't the same without him.
After going 15-50 during last season's injury-fueled campaign, many expected the Warriors to get back into the mix of contenders with a healthy core, Andrew Wiggins, and this year's No. 2 pick.
Instead, this Warriors era is likely over as we've known it. When Thompson returns to the floor, he'll be coming off of two extreme injuries, turning 32, with almost two years off of basketball. Curry will be 33, turning 34, and Draymond Green will be turning 32, with many miles of playing undersized under his belt.
Unfortunately, for the Warriors, there is little way to re-tool and remain a contender. The core of Curry, Thompson, Wiggins, and Green are due over $269 million combined over the next two seasons.
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