Warriors star Klay Thompson fell to the ground and clutched his left knee in pain during the third quarter in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors. He would be escorted out in what would later be determined as a torn ACL. He returned to shoot two free throws … and made them.
It was a storybook scene from a documentary. Which is exactly what Klay did.
Last week, he promoted “ABOVE THE WAVES,” which he described as the full story about his mental and physical recovery from the injury.
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Floyd Russ directed the feature and has been a big fan of the game since he was younger. He told Clutch Points in an exclusive interview that despite seeing a lot of rehab stories in the past, Klay’s was different.
“The fact that Klay’s injury in a way was the final nail in the coffin of perhaps the most epic run any team has ever had in NBA history makes the story one of a kind,” Russ said.
Klay’s story is geared more toward his mental approach coming back from such an impactful injury. In addition to the doctor scenes and physical therapy, you’re able to “enter the mind” of the five-time All-Star.
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“But specifically here, it’s about Klay wanting to become better than he was before,” Russ said. “He’s not comparing himself to anyone else; he realizes he has to focus on himself in ways he never did before. At the end of the day, contempt is the worst thing you can have in any character, to be honest.”
Russ also said Klay didn’t have a tough time adjusting to being in front of the camera. Surely the many interviews helped, but the director said perhaps his time on "Space Jam 2" played into that as well. He was also a treat to work with, he added.
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“Very easy-going and chill to work with,” Russ said. Klay’s beloved bulldog Rocco was also on set.
“ABOVE THE WAVES” began streaming online on May 6.