The Golden State Warriors suffered another major loss in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, and it wasn’t just on the court. Guard Klay Thompson went down with a scary, non-contact knee injury late in the third quarter and the Warriors’ worst fears have been realized.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Thompson suffered a torn ACL and will likely miss most of if not all of next season similar to his teammate Kevin Durant.
Golden State’s Klay Thompson has suffered a torn ACL in his left knee, his agent Greg Lawrence tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 14, 2019
Even if Warriors are able to keep Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant in free agency, it'll be a fight to reach playoffs in the Western Conference. Thompson's ACL rehab could take him into February or March — and Durant likely misses entire season. Devastating turn of events. https://t.co/xKXayv9p34
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 14, 2019
Durant rupturing his Achilles in an unfortunate turn of events was already enough of a blow to the Warriors. Now with Klay Thompson also headed for the shelf next season alongside KD, this doesn’t only significantly affect Golden State’s chances at a title next season, but it also throws many of their offseason plans in flux.
Thompson is headed for unrestricted free agency this summer, but it’s been clearly expressed he has no intention of leaving the Bay Area. The Warriors have shown on their side they also intend to keep Thompson around for the long haul. But now with Thompson and Durant both out for at least most of next season, it’ll be intriguing to see if the Warriors commit not one but two max slots on players looking at year-long recoveries from debilitating leg injuries.
Durant can pick up his $31m option for next season but that would only be postponing the inevitable to next summer. While it’s hard to envision a scenario in which Golden State lets Thomspon walk this summer, these two devastating injuries in the NBA Finals have already thrown a major wrench into Golden State’s 2019-2020 season.
