The Golden State Warriors provided updates Monday night on the status of two players who were injured in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday.
Klay Thompson underwent an MRI on his hamstring after injuring it on Sunday and has a mild strain. He is questionable for Wednesday’s Game 3.
Kevon Looney has a non-displaced first costal cartilage fracture and will be out indefinitely.
Looney was averaging 7.2 points and 4.6 rebounds in 20.3 minutes per game this postseason. He provides excellent depth at the center position for the Warriors. His absence should be buoyed by the presence of DeMarcus Cousins, who returned from a quad injury to play in both Games 1 and 2 of the Finals.
Thompson is a major contributor to Golden State on both ends of the floor. He suggested immediately after Sunday’s game that he would not miss Game 3. Known for his toughness, Thompson did not miss any games in last year’s Finals despite injuring his ankle.
The series is tied 1-1 between Golden State and Toronto. The next two games will be played at Oracle Arena in Oakland.
The trash talk between Drake and the Golden State Warriors continues.
Klay Thompson exited Game 2 of the NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors on Sunday night with a hamstring injury suffered in the fourth quarter. Kevin Durant was not playing as he continues to recover from his calf injury. Though neither player was on the floor at the end of the win, they made their contributions with some trash talk.
KRON reporter Jason Dumas captured this video exchange which shows Thompson and Durant talking with Drake, the Raptors superfan/ambassador.
“See you in the Bay, Aubrey. Weren’t talking tonight, were ya?” Thompson could be heard saying.
Aubrey is Drake’s first name by birth — he just goes by his middle name on stage — so that’s a jab from Thompson at the music artist.
Though the Warriors have been trading trash talk with Drake during the series, it’s all somewhat in fun considering Draymond Green got together with him.
Klay Thompson does not seem to think he will miss any time despite suffering a hamstring injury in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night.
Thompson left the game in the fourth quarter after landing awkwardly following a 3-point attempt. He limped off the court and into the locker room. He was later seen limping out with ice on his hamstring as he congratulated his Golden State Warriors teammates on the 109-104 win over the Toronto Raptors.
After the game, Thompson told Yahoo’s Chris B. Haynes that he did not see himself missing Game 3.
Thompson also told Warriors head coach Steve Kerr he would be fine.
Thompson told reporters he is planning to get an MRI. He will have two full days off to recover before Game 3 of the series at Oracle Arena on Wednesday. To give you an idea of his ability to play through injuries, Thompson did not miss any games in last year’s Finals despite suffering an ankle injury.
Klay Thompson left Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night with a hamstring injury.
Thompson was grabbing at his left hamstring at times during the game. Then in the fourth quarter, he took a 3-pointer and landed awkwardly following Fred VanVleet’s closeout. He limped to the Golden State Warriors’ bench and then into the locker room.
The Warriors announced later in the fourth quarter that Thompson had exited with left hamstring tightness and would not return.
Thompson had 25 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in 32 minutes prior to his injury. He was 10-for-17 shooting with four 3-pointers.
The Warriors were getting beat up in the game. Kevon Looney left with a collarbone injury, Andre Iguodala hurt his head in the second quarter before returning, and Steph Curry was said to be playing at less than full strength.
The Toronto Raptors entered the game with a 1-0 series lead.
The officiating crew for Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Toronto Raptors and Golden State Warriors on Thursday night gave Klay Thompson no wiggle room.
Thompson was called for a weak technical foul with about five minutes left in the game after a ball he bounced hit a referee. Thompson had just been called for an offensive foul for pushing off against Danny Green. He bounced the ball back at official John Gobel, who turned his back, which resulted in the ball hitting him.
The official behind Thompson who saw it happen is the one who called the tech.
Kawhi Leonard made the technical free throw to increase Toronto’s lead to 106-94. The Raptors then got a possession and killed another 30 seconds or so off the clock.
With the Warriors short on time to attempt a comeback, that weak call had a big impact. Toronto pulled out a 118-109 win to go up 1-0 in the series.
Klay Thompson found out from the media on Thursday that he was once again not elected to an All-NBA team, and the Golden State Warriors star could not hide his disappointment with being overlooked for a third consecutive year.
Thompson rolled his eyes when a reporter informed him that he finished behind Kemba Walker in the All-NBA Third Team voting.
“That’s cool and all, but when you go to five straight Finals — I respect those guys, but when you go to five straight it takes more than just a couple of All-NBA guys,” Thompson said. “That’s like an all-time team, but whatever. I’d rather win a championship than be Third Team All-NBA.”
Of course, making an All-NBA team gives a player much more than just bragging rights. Thompson, a five-time All-Star, would have been eligible for a five-year, $221 million supermax contract this offseason if he was All-NBA. Instead, he can earn a max of around $191 million over five years with Golden State. When asked if that part of it bothers him, Thompson said “rings” help him get past it.
“Do I think there are that many guards better than me in the league?” Thompson asked. “No, but that’s the reason why we’re still playing.”
Stephen Curry was named All-NBA First Team while Kevin Durant made the Second Team, and Thompson obviously has it tougher being teammates with those guys. He still managed to average 21.5 points per game this season, but that was not enough for the voters. These are the reasons why there have been rumblings that Thompson is unhappy with his role in Golden State, though his father seems to think his son should ignore all that and stick with what he has.
Making one of the All-NBA teams is not just a matter of prestige and recognition for basketball players. Now, the voting of these honors has practical effects on the money certain players can earn on their contracts.
In order to incentivize the best players to remain with their current teams, the league made changes that allow teams to offer more money via the “supermax” contracts to their veteran, often homegrown star players who either win an MVP, get named Defensive Player of the Year, or make one of the All-NBA teams in a recent season.
So who was most strongly affected by the All-NBA voting? Let’s take a look.
1) Klay Thompson loses about $30 million
Thompson has made five straight All-Star teams, but he did not make the All-NBA team. He also did not make an All-NBA team in either of the previous two seasons, which will prevent him from signing a supermax deal. Rather than being eligible to sign a 5-year, $221 million contract, he will be able to top out at around $191 million over five years in a deal from the Warriors. This is good news for the Warriors, as he will be somewhat cheaper to sign. They also can offer Thompson much more money and an extra year compared to other teams looking to sign him as a free agent.
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The future of the Golden State Warriors very much hinges upon what happens this offseason.
Klay Thompson will be a free agent after the season, while Kevin Durant is widely expected to decline his player option and become a free agent. Does either player leave or do they stay with the Warriors to continue the dynasty?
Warriors majority owner Joe Lacob told The Athletic’s Tim Kawakami on Tuesday that they are confident both players will re-sign with the team.
Thompson’s camp has been making noise about him considering other options if the Warriors don’t offer him a max contract. As long as Golden State is willing to pay him — and it sounds like they are — the likelihood of him returning seems very high. Durant is the much bigger question.
There has long been a line of thinking that Durant joined the Warriors to win championships for his legacy and that he would leave once he accomplished that goal. The Knicks have long been considered a potential destination for him, but recently other teams have been mentioned as possibilities.
Our guess is that despite the Warriors’ best efforts to retain him, Durant will probably leave. What team he chooses is the big question.
Klay Thompson will have an interesting decision to make when his contract expires and he becomes a free agent this summer, but the Golden State Warriors star’s father has made it clear on numerous occasions what he thinks his son should do.
In an interview with Stephen A. Smith on ESPN Sunday, Mychal Thompson — a former NBA player himself — was asked what advice he would give to Klay about his impending free agency. He indicated he thinks Klay should stay put.
“Any advice any mother or father would give to their child in their place of employment. If you are happy where you’re at and comfortable and this is where you want to be, just stay where you are,” Mychal Thompson said. “There’s no reason to go looking for anything else if you’re happy and content with where you’re already at, which he definitely is. He loves the Bay Area, loves playing for the Warriors, loves their fans.”
Of course, money will be a factor. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnaorwski previously reported that Thompson will re-sign with the Warriors without hesitation if they offer him a max contract, but that may not be a guarantee. Kevin Durant could make things interesting if he decides to remain with Golden State.
Most people seem to think Durant will leave, which would free up a max slot for the Warriors. Of course, they can offer Thompson a max contract either way and spend beyond the salary cap because they hold his Bird rights, but you have to wonder if there’s a limit to the amount of luxury tax they want to pay.
When you look at the comments Mychal Thompson made over the weekend and what he said last year, it would be quite the surprise if Klay signed with another team after the season.
The Golden State Warriors’ win over the Houston Rockets on Friday night convinced some that they don’t need Kevin Durant, but you won’t be hearing that from inside the locker room.
Klay Thompson, who hit a key shot down the stretch to finish Houston off, said the Warriors “desperately” need Durant back for the remainder of the playoff run, calling him the team’s best player.
There’s a case to be made that the Warriors don’t really need Durant to retain the title, but for whatever criticism there is of him out there, they are better off if they can turn to him. It’s unclear when they’ll get him back, but there is certainly a chance he could suit up for them in the Western Conference Finals.
