Klay Thompson Describes ‘Mental Block’ That Has Slowed His Preseason

The Warriors forward is coming off two major knee surgeries in the last three years.

Klay Thompson is entering training camp fully healthy for the first time in a long time, and he was careful to make sure that was the case all summer.

The Warriors guard didn’t play in the team’s game in Japan vs. the Wizards. In fact, he hasn’t played much since the team won the NBA Finals in June.

“I didn’t play a lot this summer,” he said. “It was hard, especially what I went through the last summer I was healthy, popping my achilles, it was really hard for me to get out there.”

Thompson mentioned that it’s tough to really express the issue that he faced all summer regarding playing basketball, but he is confident that he will get over it at some point.

“It’s hard to explain, it’s like a mental block in a way,” he said. “I’m going to face it one day but this season was so taxing coming back, it was hard.”

Klay Thompson didn’t play pickup this summer. Called it a “mental block” he will eventually get over because of torn Achilles in summer ball. But that’s slowed his preseason ramp up. Called next week a “big week” as he revs back up for regular season.

Here he is explaining it pic.twitter.com/0ZCCmWYFO1

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) October 1, 2022

From 2019–20, Thompson dealt with two major leg injuries. First, he had to recover from the torn ACL he suffered in the 2019 NBA Finals. Then, while he was almost fully recovered in the summer of 2020, Thompson tore his Achilles during a pickup game before the season began. It’s that second injury that has been so hard for him to get over.

• Get your seats to Golden State Warriors games with SI Tickets

While Thompson is disappointed he didn’t play in the Warriors exhibition overseas, he understands that the team wants him fully healthy for the year. And, through all of his doubts over the summer, he had just as much excitement for the upcoming season.

“I feel great, I’m excited for the season,” he said, “It’s hard to put into words how excited I am.”

• LeBron James, Kevin Love and Draymond Green To Buy Pickleball Team
• Blake Griffin Signs One-Year Deal With Celtics, per Report
• Five Takeaways From NBA Training Camp
• Inside The Warriors: Best Highlights From Warriors vs. Wizards Japan Game

For more Golden State Warriors coverage, go to Inside The Warriors.