Sports Weekly All-Media Reporter Ji Mengnian
At this moment, the long wait finally reached the end. After 941 days of absence due to injury, Klay Thompson will return to the game in the Warriors vs. Cavaliers game.
Fans in the Bay Area have actually been used to cheering for the Warriors at the Chase Center, but they have never seen Cray playing on the court wearing a jersey here. The sixth game of the 2019 Finals was also the last game before the mission of the Oracle Arena was achieved. Klay Thompson fell due to injury. Later, he suffered a torn Achilles tendon before the start of last season, as if he was cursed by fate.
“I’m very excited to be able to come back. I want to prove to people who I am. I know they have forgotten because I have been away from the game for two years. But I have never wanted this (to prove myself) like I am now. The best thing for revenge is The way is to win, seriously.” Klay Thompson said in an interview.
In fact, as early as the preseason stage of this season, Clay could not restrain his thoughts of coming back. After the game against the Lakers on October 9th, Pachulia, the former Warriors center who now serves as an adviser on the team, heard that there were people practicing shooting after the game. He looked for a voice with interest. In the past, it was later discovered that it was Clay who was still doing additional training.
“On that day, he has had a complete training, but he still wants to practice his shooting. At that moment, you will know how much this guy cares and how much he wants to play basketball.” He said.
The time for Clay’s comeback has been delayed again and again. There was news that he would return before Christmas, but we did not see Clay playing for the Warriors in the Christmas War. Later, there were rumors that Clay’s return date was January 4, but he still closed the appointment. It was not until the day before this game with the Cavaliers that the Warriors officially issued a statement that Clay would return to the game in the clash with the Cavaliers, waiting for this to really come to an end.
In the process of waiting, Clay also had an extremely emotional moment. After the Warriors had played against the Trail Blazers at home, Clay sat on the bench alone, with a frustrated expression on his face. The spectators and teammates in the stands gave him a lot of encouragement, but he was unable to play for the team, which still made Clay pass the day. Many people, including Pachulia, gave Clay some suggestions, hoping that he could find a new outlet that would help ease his inner pressure.
As everyone knows, Cray has turned from “splash brother” into “sea king”, will he drive his own private yacht to the middle of the sea to relax? “Every NBA player has their way to relieve stress. Iguodala and Curry will choose to play golf. In the same way, the sea belongs to Cray’s golf course.” Cole said.
To a certain extent, Cray is now able to get permission from the Warriors medical team to come back. Not only is his injury healed, but also because he is psychologically ready to return. Clay could hardly contain his excitement, “I know who I am, and I know how great I am. I also know my previous achievements. How much do I need to do to be respected by others? Do you get 50 points in the festival? What the hell? Enough is enough, I will use these (disrespect) as my motivation.”
The same goes for the Warriors. Especially head coach Cole, he even said that Clay’s return reminded him of Michael Jordan. “There are always some games in your life that you will never forget. Cray’s comeback game is like that for me. My emotions will be very exciting then, just like the first time I greeted Jordan’s return to the Bulls. It’s the same.”
The Warriors have experienced many ups and downs during the years when Clay was injured. This season, they are once again regarded as a popular team competing for the championship. The reason why the outside world has such high expectations for the Warriors, there is a premise that Clay needs to play a good competitive state after his comeback. Dreamcatcher Green said that Thompson’s current competitive state is very ideal. Some Warriors players who have not been teammates with Clay before are even more surprised by Clay’s way of playing. “He is a scoring machine. Once we were training, Clay scored 12 points in 43 seconds. I am very excited to return.” Toscano Anderson said.
However, from the double injury of the knee and Achilles tendon, Clay may still need a long period of adaptation. Kerr will not arrange for Clay to substitute, but will limit his playing time. Clay himself had previously revealed that his playing time in each game should be controlled within 18 minutes in the early days of his return. As the season progresses, he will gradually improve. Similarly, the Warriors will adjust the team’s rotation according to Clay’s state, and even open some trade negotiations.
The meaning of Clay’s return to the Warriors is more than just reunion after 941 days. To a certain extent, the Warriors’ season has just begun, and the league’s structure will also show some new changes as a result.
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