Golden State Warriors talisman Klay Thompson knows what it is like to be out of action for a long time due to an injury. Thompson suffered an ACL during Game 6 of the NBA Finals in 2019, which ruled him out of the sport for two and a half years.
Similarly, Denver Nuggets player Jamal Murray suffered a knee injury while playing against Golden State Warriors in April. Murray averaged 21.6 points, 4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists while shooting 40% from the perimeter on 6.6 attempts.
Thompson, who has himself undergone a long road to recovery, empathize with Murray and said he felt bad for Denver Nuggets’ star guard after he tore his ACL.
Klay Thompson said while talking to Denver Post, “I told him that I felt for him, first off. I can tell by how competitive he is. If he channels that competitiveness into his daily tasks he has to do for his knee, he’s going to be an All-Star level player again. He’s so important to their team, him and (Nikola) Jokic. I really felt for him in that instance, because I’ve been there, and it’s kind of uncharted territory. He’s in the prime of his career. It just sucks, not just for the Nuggets but for the whole NBA.”
Thompson is optimistic that Murray will bounce back stronger from his injury and feels he will be able to hit the ground running.
“I felt for him. I love his game. I think he’s a great lead guard, can do everything. I know he’ll bounce back because his skill level is so high. Great athlete, too. I’ve seen him catch a lot of bodies. He’ll gain that back because I did in my jumping knee, too.”
Meanwhile, Denver Nuggets has had a mixed season thus far as they have a 28-21 record. The Nuggets have been in sublime form in the recent past as they have won their last five matches. They defeated defending champions Milwaukee Bucks by 136-100 on Sunday night.
Denver Nuggets have relied on the shoulders of Nikola Jokic and they would want to come up with a more collective effort. They will next face Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday.
