Another catastrophic injury threatens the Warriors' thrilling dynastic run

The enjoyable and exciting charmed life lasted for a while, didn’t it? Both the days and nights successfully cleared the two-decade-long basketball haze that had engulfed the Bay Area. They elevated the level of entertainment, creating an NBA spectacle that required and merited prime time viewing for numerous years. It was not just a game, but a must-see moneymaker.

Truthfully, we all had a blast, including the Warriors.

But apparently their time as a championship contender has come to a painful end with the latest grim news about Klay Thompson and yet another body part that failed him and his team.

The truth – it’s harsh and it stinks. Include any other exasperated depiction you can think of regarding this abrupt change of luck. For some inexplicable reason, it’s penalizing the Warriors. And their crime? Making basketball enjoyable?

They are guilty… is that a sin?

The Warriors have had a difficult time since claiming their third championship in four years in 2018, a time when the world and the Larry O’Brien trophy were in a different place. Their three biggest stars, all future Hall of Famers, have suffered serious injuries including two torn Achilles tendons, an ACL tear and a broken hand. These setbacks are not easy to recover from quickly. In fact, they are harder to accept than losing a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals.

What’s harsher is how Thompson was blindsided just as he was gearing up to restart. Following over 14 months of recuperation from knee surgery, with the NBA season disrupted by a virus, Thompson was fit, eager, and prepared to rejoin the line-up and push the Warriors towards victory.

Just hours prior to the NBA Draft, with the Warriors poised to secure the No. 2 overall pick and strengthen their team, Thompson suffered a right Achilles tear during a workout with other NBA players. This injury sets him up for another season of rehab, potentially jeopardizing his position amongst the NBA’s top players. By the start of the 2021-22 season, Thompson will be 31, out of practice, and will have undergone two surgeries.

At that point, the Warriors could potentially be an average team, possibly exiting the playoffs by the second round, desperately clinging to Steph Curry’s peak years. And that’s assuming they’re fortunate enough not to encounter further issues.

In the current state of this league, no one is given the luxury of time or the comfort of a saved spot for those who have left. The Warriors, in the absence of Klay, are soon to encounter this reality. In the Western Conference alone, nearly five teams are poised to capitalize on the Warriors’ downfall. Teams like the Lakers, Nuggets, Clippers, Jazz, and potentially the Mavericks are all structured to seize the opportunity presented by the impending demise of the once dominant Warriors.

Perhaps it’s even more impressive how the Warriors managed to sustain their success. This started with the drafting of Curry, accelerated when Thompson joined and the Splash Brothers duo was created, and transformed into a whirlwind with the addition of Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala, and finally Kevin Durant, turning the Warriors into a cultural sensation. They dominated other teams, achieved a record-breaking 73 wins in a season, made it to the Finals five times, clinched three titles, excelled in both fast breaks and half-court plays, and provided great value for the cost of tickets or TV subscriptions.

A franchise rarely makes a series of spot-on decisions in the draft, free agency, and trades within a short timeframe. While the Warriors had some degree of luck, they also created their own, dominating the NBA for the last decade. With obstacles such as a salary cap, luxury tax, free agency, and self-interested superstars, assembling a championship team is challenging, and maintaining one is even more so.

Coach Steve Kerr consistently pointed out that the Warriors didn’t exist in reality. They miraculously avoided the setbacks experienced by most teams in the league. However, it can be argued that they finally faced their reckoning, even if it seems unjust.

The Warriors had enjoyed a fortunate run since 2015, until Durant’s lower leg injury in the 2019 playoffs, which seemed to turn their luck. They were on track to secure their fourth championship in five years until Durant sustained another injury in Game 5 of the 2019 Finals. Had Durant remained healthy during the championship series against the Raptors, Golden State might have added another trophy to their collection, Durant might have re-signed with the team, and the Finals game in which Thompson injured his knee might not have been necessary.

However, sports do not function in such a manner. They can be ruthless and merciless, prepared to jinx a successful team so that another team might have an opportunity.

With Thompson sidelined last season, Curry’s broken hand soon followed, leading the Warriors into a disappointing season where they ended up at the bottom of the rankings. Perhaps their strenuous and extended summer campaigns took a toll on their physical health, although LeBron James seems unaffected by such rigors. However, finishing last had its silver lining, granting the Warriors the No. 2 pick, which they used to secure James Wiseman. Despite only playing a few college games, the seven-footer managed to leave a significant impression.

Wiseman was anticipated to offer the Warriors an element they lacked during their dynasty – a proficient big man who could potentially have a few plays run in his favor. His presence was expected to provide some equilibrium and prevent defenses from specifically targeting Curry and Thompson on the perimeter.

So you’re suggesting the Warriors are not done yet? That’s a viewpoint that requires some context. Without Klay, the idea of reaching the Finals every year is unthinkable. The same applies to challenging LeBron and Anthony Davis. While Curry has the skill to take a team to a mid-tier conference position and potentially reach the playoffs, anything more than that is unrealistic.

Steph and Draymond will be there and there’s a chance Andrew Wiggins steps up. Wiseman could also potentially develop faster than anticipated. They’re getting help from Kelly Oubre, a fairly good swingman who can contribute to their scoring. However, the Warriors no longer instill fear in the rest of the league like they used to.

Klay Thompson will not be part of them once again. Despite the widespread sympathy for Thompson, both within and outside the NBA, everyone will eventually move on once the 2020-21 season begins.

The Warriors will also proceed, albeit not via their usual route, and certainly not at a pace that allows them to distance themselves from their unfortunate circumstances.

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Shaun Powell has covered the NBA for more than 25 years. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.

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