It has been two years yet the threat of Covid-19 and its several variants causing some surges is still a clear and present danger. In between the pandemic, storms brought havoc and destruction, the most recent was Odette, who took away most of our ‘sins’, if you know what I mean, and which prompted someone to annihilate twigs with a chainsaw.
Covid has changed our lives and was also the source of the postponement of several major sporting events both foreign and domestic.
But last Monday was a cause for celebration for basketball fans, Dub Nation in particular. Last seen on the hardcourt during the 2019 NBA Finals, Klay Thompson is finally back and boy, was he back, like he never had a ruptured Achilles tendon and a torn ACL which sidelined him for two seasons.
Warriors players arrived separately at the arena wearing Thompson’s number 11 jersey, from different designs throughout his career.
For the first time in a long while, Thompson, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green again shared the court inside the Chase Center. Not since the days at the Oracle Arena in Oakland was the crowd heard roaring when Klay’s name was called last for the starting five announcement. Usually, it was Curry’s name that’s called last but he gave way to his returning Splash brother and have his moment.
Thompson was not gun-shy when he reported for duty. In 20 minutes of play, he scored 17 points, converting 7 of 18 attempts including 3 of 8 from behind the arc.
It was a history-making return. With his first made 3-pointer, he breached the 12,000-point mark. His second converted 3-pointer made him the fastest player in NBA history not named Stephen Curry to make 1,800 3s. This milestone was reached in 615 games. Curry did it in 545 games, 70 less than Thompson’s.
To recall, Thompson set league records when he scored the most points in a quarter (37), most 3-pointers made in a game (14) and is tied with Splash Bro #1 for most 3-pointers made in a single playoffs (98).
Give him a few more games to really get him going. The Splash Brothers are reunited, and they feel so good. We can’t say the same for the 29 other teams. Be afraid of GSW. Be really afraid because with KT11 back, they’re eyeing to reclaim some lost titles.