Golden State Warriors forward Klay Thompson was in the middle of putting together another epic "Game 6 Klay" performance -- 28 points on 8-for-12 shooting late in the third quarter -- when he went down hard after being fouled on a dunk attempt, silencing the Oracle Arena crowd on Thursday. After having witnessed Kevin Durant go down for the season with a ruptured Achilles in Game 5, fans and fellow NBA players feared the worst as Thompson went back to the locker room.
This is awful.
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) June 14, 2019
It was his left knee. He is being taken to the locker room -- Jordan Bell and Jonas Jerebko on either side of him -- helping him off the floor.
— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) June 14, 2019
Please No.
— Kevin Love (@kevinlove) June 14, 2019
Naaa bruh!!!!!!! No way!!!!
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) June 14, 2019
🙏🏿🙏🏿
— Ekpe Udoh (@EkpeUdoh) June 14, 2019
✌🏿
I don't care how bad you want either team to win, injuries are not a joke. So so disgusted how certain people act.
— Josh Okogie (@CallMe_NonStop) June 14, 2019
However, halfway down the tunnel, Thompson stopped and turned around, making his way back out the the court in a moment that would turn out to be eerily reminiscent of the time Kobe Bryant stayed in the game to shoot free throws on a torn Achilles tendon.
Wait what... LMFAO
— Keenan Evans (@K3vans12) June 14, 2019
Damn Klay a real 🐕. I know that shi hurting. He need to get that checked after this free throw throw. If he didn't shoot em , he was done for the game
— CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) June 14, 2019
Klay is a DAMN DOG. That dude don't sit out for nothing. Regular season or finals. Highest respects🤙🏽
— kuz (@kylekuzma) June 14, 2019
Yeah..... just add Klay Thompson to the Willis Reed/ Paul Pierce list #warrior
— Mo Bamba (@TheRealMoBamba) June 14, 2019
I cannot explain the volume of this building when Klay just walked back out of the tunnel on his own power.
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) June 14, 2019
Like Bryant did in 2013, Thompson made both of his free throws before heading back to the locker room and eventually leaving the arena on crutches. The Warriors led 85-80 when Thompson departed, but the Raptors came back to win 114-110, clinching the first championship in team history. After the game, an MRI revealed that Thompson had suffered a torn ACL.
Once the news of the severity of Thompson's injury was reported, NBA players sent him messages on social media wishing him a speedy recovery.
🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 damn man. Warrior💪🏽 https://t.co/vIRQhe5dIo
— kuz (@kylekuzma) June 14, 2019
No man!!! This lost hurt but hearing about this killed me. Prayers up to you bro @KlayThompson
— Jordan Bell (@1jordanbell) June 14, 2019
Praying for the bro klay man praying for a speedy recovery!! God got you! 🙌🏿🙏🏿
— Victor Oladipo (@VicOladipo) June 14, 2019
Noooooo😞🙏🏽.... Praying for a Speedy Recovery!!!! https://t.co/QGZ1PuCMQg
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) June 14, 2019
Damn Prayers up for both KD and now Klay!! 🙏🏾 Never want to see it happen in sports, but MAD RESPECT to them both for laying it all out 💯
— Tim Hardaway Jr (@T_HardJR) June 14, 2019
