?Going to Be a Hall of Famer?: Stephen Curry?s Absence Has Been a ?Blessing in Disguise? for ?Splash Brother? Klay Thompson, Claims NBA Champion

On 14th December 2022, the Golden State Warriors faced the Indiana Pacers with the hope to bag another win for the season. But the Pacers ended up beating them by six points. However, the loss was the least of their concerns because their leader Stephen Curry had walked off the court in pain midgame. Soon news broke that the two-time MVP had injured his shoulder. This meant that Curry would be away from the court for an extended period of time. As the defeats piled on, the Warriors were on the hunt for a new leader who could lead their pack in the absence of their franchise centerpiece. Klay Thompson answered this call and rose to the occasion almost instantaneously.

On Christmas day, the Warriors returned to their fortress – the Chase Centre. What followed was a four-game winning streak, led by Thompson in the absence of his ‘Splash Brother’. Jordan Poole also contributed but Thompson’s performance stood out because this was his first complete season since the two career-altering injuries over the past few years. In those four games, the Warriors star averaged 36 points per game. Amidst his sublime showing, the question arised – has Curry’s absence helped Thompson to find his rhythm? The Slash brothers’ former teammate and NBA Champion, Matt Barnes chimed in with his opinion on ESPN’s NBA Today.

Matt Barnes on Klay Thompson’s current form

The answer for Barnes was an easy ‘yes’. However, he did point out that he doesn’t mean it in a negative sense. Curry being on the sidelines due to his shoulder subluxation injury has allowed Thompson to spend more time on the court while also attempting more shots. Barnes believed that this exposure has allowed the five-time All-Star to build up his confidence.

Barnes said, “Obviously this guy is going to be first ballot a Hall of Famer, a four-time champion and he had two catastrophic injuries, and getting a chance to know Klay, speak to him on the show, he really took it the hard way when people were criticizing him when he was-you know-coming back after missing nearly two seasons.” He added that nothing but happiness filled him when he witnessed Killer Klay rediscover his groove and rhythm.

On the same show, WNBA Star Chiney Ogwumike called Curry’s injury to be a “blessing in disguise” for the Warriors and Klay Thompson. She mentioned that Curry’s absence forced the Warriors’ roster to amp up their game.

Ogwumike added that for Thompson this shift in gears was expected because of his years of experience. This experience has also helped him adjust to the changing nature of the game.

Read More: ?Cannot Win Without Steph and Klay?: Coach Steve Kerr?s Big Update Worries Warriors Fans After Tough Loss

Stephen Curry is set to return this week

The Warriors recently announced that Curry could return to the court this week. He has been listed as probable for the upcoming game against the Phoenix Suns. On the other hand, Klay Thompson missed the game against the Orlando Magic earlier in the week.

Supposedly during warm-up, he felt a little soreness in the knee that he had previously injured. As a precautionary measure, he sat on the sidelines during the game.

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Once they are all healthy, it will interesting to see how the Splash Brothers combine forces with the other stars on the team and move ahead in the league. Will they dominate the floor like the good old days in this year’s playoffs? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.