‘Perfectionist’ Klay Thompson still learning to be patient in getting
back to previous form
Klay Thompson is still working to conquer the mental hurdles stemming
from back-to-back injuries.
>Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson (11) sits on the sidelines next
to Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) and Golden State Warriors’
Draymond Green (23) during their game against the Sacramento Kings in
the fourth quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on
Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
By MADELINE KENNEY | mkenney@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group
PUBLISHED: October 25, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. | UPDATED: October 25, 2022 at
5:22 p.m.
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2022/10/25/perfectionist-klay-thompson-still-learning-to-be-patient-in-getting-back-to-previous-form/

TEMPE, Ariz. — Klay Thompson was consumed by intrusive thoughts last
January when he was making his return to the court after back-to-back
injuries.

What if he couldn’t return to his All-Star level? What if he makes a
mistake? What if he can’t help the Warriors get back to the top of the
league?

But Thompson has learned to give himself grace and be patient with where
he’s at.

A week into the season, Thompson said he feels great, though he’s not
where he needs to be as far as his conditioning. That’s why he remains
under a minutes restriction as the team’s training staff gradually
increases his workload back to his usual 30-35 minutes.

Thompson hasn’t played more than 27 minutes in a game entering Tuesday’s
matchup against the Phoenix Suns. He admitted the limitations might have
impeded his ability to get into rhythm on both ends of the court, but he
has faith in the plan developed by Dr. Rick Celebrini, the team’s
director of sports medicine and performance.

Still, there are mental roadblocks Thompson is fighting to get over
every time he steps into the gym. Some of those hurdles were ones he
thought he cleared back in January, when he returned to the floor after
missing nearly 1,000 days with two major leg injuries.

“I’m such a perfectionist, I want to be great right now,” Thompson said
after shootaround Tuesday at Arizona State University. “But I gotta
realize, man, it’s a long season and I’d rather peak playoff time versus
early November, January.”

Thompson is trying to keep things in perspective.

“I’m also a very prideful person,” Thompson admitted. “I kind of forget
that what I’ve been through is real and I’m not 25 anymore. I can’t just
step on the court and fly around. I got to do the little things to get
ready to play. And that’s alright.

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“I’ve accepted it, and I’m going to continue to get better each week.
And although I want to have the big shooting nights, like record-setting
nights, I know those come with hard work and being patient because that
stuff’s organic.”

Thompson played in his first season opener since the 2018-19 season last
week and dropped 18 points. He had a solid second game but his offense
was shoddy in Sunday’s win over the Sacramento Kings, when he shot
3-for-10 from the floor for only eight points. He’s not sweating the
up-and-down performances, especially this early in the season. Instead,
he’s just sticking to the process to get back to where he wants to be.

“I’m not going to worry about making shots or statistics,” Thompson
said. “I’m just going to go out there, play hard and be an impactful
two-way player. I know the shooting nights will come as long as I just
stay the course and stay patient, and trust our training staff to let me
go when I need to because it was in the same formula last year and it
led to a championship.”

Allen wrote:
> ‘Perfectionist’ Klay Thompson still learning to be patient in getting
> back to previous form
> Klay Thompson is still working to conquer the mental hurdles stemming
> from back-to-back injuries.
> >Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson (11) sits on the sidelines next
> to Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) and Golden State Warriors’
> Draymond Green (23) during their game against the Sacramento Kings in
> the fourth quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on
> Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
> By MADELINE KENNEY | mkenney@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group
> PUBLISHED: October 25, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. | UPDATED: October 25, 2022 at
> 5:22 p.m.
> https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2022/10/25/perfectionist-klay-thompson-still-learning-to-be-patient-in-getting-back-to-previous-form/
>
>
>
> TEMPE, Ariz. — Klay Thompson was consumed by intrusive thoughts last
> January when he was making his return to the court after back-to-back
> injuries.
>
> What if he couldn’t return to his All-Star level? What if he makes a
> mistake? What if he can’t help the Warriors get back to the top of the
> league?
>
> But Thompson has learned to give himself grace and be patient with where
> he’s at.
>
> A week into the season, Thompson said he feels great, though he’s not
> where he needs to be as far as his conditioning. That’s why he remains
> under a minutes restriction as the team’s training staff gradually
> increases his workload back to his usual 30-35 minutes.
>
> Thompson hasn’t played more than 27 minutes in a game entering Tuesday’s
> matchup against the Phoenix Suns. He admitted the limitations might have
> impeded his ability to get into rhythm on both ends of the court, but he
> has faith in the plan developed by Dr. Rick Celebrini, the team’s
> director of sports medicine and performance.
>
> Still, there are mental roadblocks Thompson is fighting to get over
> every time he steps into the gym. Some of those hurdles were ones he
> thought he cleared back in January, when he returned to the floor after
> missing nearly 1,000 days with two major leg injuries.
>
> “I’m such a perfectionist, I want to be great right now,” Thompson said
> after shootaround Tuesday at Arizona State University. “But I gotta
> realize, man, it’s a long season and I’d rather peak playoff time versus
> early November, January.”
>
> Thompson is trying to keep things in perspective.
>
> “I’m also a very prideful person,” Thompson admitted. “I kind of forget
> that what I’ve been through is real and I’m not 25 anymore. I can’t just
> step on the court and fly around. I got to do the little things to get
> ready to play. And that’s alright.
>
> “I’ve accepted it, and I’m going to continue to get better each week.
> And although I want to have the big shooting nights, like record-setting
> nights, I know those come with hard work and being patient because that
> stuff’s organic.”
>
> Thompson played in his first season opener since the 2018-19 season last
> week and dropped 18 points. He had a solid second game but his offense
> was shoddy in Sunday’s win over the Sacramento Kings, when he shot
> 3-for-10 from the floor for only eight points. He’s not sweating the
> up-and-down performances, especially this early in the season. Instead,
> he’s just sticking to the process to get back to where he wants to be.
>
> “I’m not going to worry about making shots or statistics,” Thompson
> said. “I’m just going to go out there, play hard and be an impactful
> two-way player. I know the shooting nights will come as long as I just
> stay the course and stay patient, and trust our training staff to let me
> go when I need to because it was in the same formula last year and it
> led to a championship.”

Watching tonight's game, I have to admit I was worried about Klay for
perhaps the first time. I know he didn't play ball over the summer, but
his shooting shouldn't be this off.

--Robin