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Ranking the Top 5 games of Klay Thompson’s career

By Josh Cornelissen

OAKLAND, CA - MAY 30: Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after hitting a three-point basket in Game Seven of the Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2016 NBA Playoffs at ORACLE Arena on May 30, 2016 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - MAY 30: Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after hitting a three-point basket in Game Seven of the Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2016 NBA Playoffs at ORACLE Arena on May 30, 2016 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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Klay Thompson
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 13: Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors reacts in the first half against the Toronto Raptors during Game Six of the 2019 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 13, 2019 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Top 5 games of Klay Thompson’s career: 4. Final game against Toronto

This game is a bittersweet one for Thompson and for Warriors fans – honestly, for fans of basketball in general. This is the game when Thompson tore his ACL, starting this 2.5-year journey away from the basketball court. Now, as he returns, we can look back and remark on what Thompson was giving when his passion was taken away.

The Warriors were on the ropes in the 2019 NBA Finals, down 3-2 with Kevin Durant tearing his Achilles. If ever the Warriors needed some “Game 6 Klay” it was then, and as usual, Thompson stepped up to the plate.

Through 34 minutes of game time, Klay had played 32 minutes, scoring 30 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field and a perfect 10-for-10 from the stripe.

Those last two free throws were the most memorable. Thompson got the basketball in transition after a steal and went up for the layup before being fouled by Danny Green. As he landed, his knee buckled, and he was immediately in pain on the ground. His ACL was torn, an injury that would knock him out for a year.

Yet Thompson wasn’t ready to quit. Limping on a leg with a torn ACL he made his way to the free-throw line and drained both free-throws. Then he headed to the locker room, telling head coach Steve Kerr that he would be right back.

He wasn’t, of course, but that was the kind of determination and sacrifice that Thompson brought to winning basketball games, especially in the playoffs. If he hadn’t gotten hurt, he was en route to one of the all-time games in NBA Finals history.

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