Klay Thompson will miss multiple months at the start of the 2019-20 NBA regular season, as the Warriors' star shooting guard rehabs from a torn ACL.
No matter when he returns to the same squad as Steph Curry and Draymond Green, Thompson trusts the Dubs. But it's the rest of the revamped roster that really intrigues him and makes him excited for the upcoming season.
"It’s going to be fun, and I love the dudes we got," Klay recently told The Athletic's Marcus Thompson. "We’ve got a young team. I’m excited for D’Angelo (Russell), for him to come to a winner. I’m excited for Willie Cauley-Stein, who is super talented and I know he’s hungry."
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Between the two former top NBA draft picks, only Russell has made the playoffs -- which he did for the first time last season as a member of the Nets. Each player is desperate for more wins, and should be able to get plenty more with Golden State.
Another player Thompson is excited to see grow is someone he already has been teammates with for four seasons. Center Kevon Looney is expected to have a much larger role with the Warriors this year on the court, but it's off the court where Klay has seen Looney grow the most.
"He’s coming into his own. I’m seeing him in Japan running camps and stuff and that man might’ve spoken 30 words in the last four years," Thompson said. "To see him leading drills and teaching and coming into his own, I can see the confidence he has."
[RELATED: Klay felt he was at 'peak of my NBA career' when he tore ACL]
Golden State Warriors
More than anything, Klay is ready to keep the Warriors' championship run alive. He already has said the dynasty is "far from over." Now, he has taken it another step further.
"I don’t just think we’re going to be nice this year. I think we’ve got a five-year window," Thompson proclaimed. "We’re still so young, man. People get lost thinking, “Oh, they’re 30 now.” I feel younger than ever."