Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors won a very deserving award on Wednesday night: he was given the ESPY for Comeback Athlete of the Year.
It’s not a shock to see him take home that prize, considering that he came back from more than two years off the court to help his team win the NBA Finals.
That’s one heck of a comeback indeed.
Klay Thompson thanks the Warriors for giving him a five-year max after his season-ending ACL injury in 2019 NBA Finals: “Who pays a guy after he injures his ACL? But they had faith in me.”
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) July 21, 2022
During his acceptance speech, Thompson got honest and grateful.
He thanked the Warriors organization for giving him a five-year max contract deal even after his season-ending ACL injury back in 2019.
“Who pays a guy after he injures his ACL? But they had faith in me,” Thompson said.
The Warriors definitely did take a chance on re-signing Thompson but that move is paying off very well now.
Time To Shine
The injury that Thompson suffered in 2019 was no joke.
In fact, it’s the sort of injury that has ended other careers.
People were understandably unsure of what was next for Thompson – but the Warriors weren’t, they knew that they would wait for him to return no matter how long it took.
Thompson is more than just a skilled shooter for the Warriors, he’s a huge part of the team’s culture and its personality.
Simply put, the Warriors would have never left him behind.
Still, Thompson came back with an eagerness to show he didn’t lose his skills during his time away.
He had a little rust to shake off and one could argue he’s still not 100% like his old self but Thompson is once again a super important part of this championship team.
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