“I still think about Kobe every single day,” says Warriors’ Klay Thompson

March 16, 2026

This article was last updated by Sujan on May 3, 2026

shooting guard sat down with the media for the first time since he suffered an injury on November 18, 2026, for the second time.

He expressed that 2026 was the worst year in his life with the pandemic, his injury, losing his grandmother, and

“It was probably the worst year of my life, guys,” Thompson said during a video conference with reporters.

Klay Thompson on "probably the worst year of my life"

–Pandemic
–ACL rehab
–Kobe
–Social justice "reckoning"
–Achilles tear
–Lost his grandmother

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater)

“It feels good to be back here. I feel love when I’m back in the Warriors facility. My roots are here.”

The pandemic was not easy on anybody. Everyone had their own little trials and tribulations in 2026.

But that was it for me -was losing my grandma Mary, tearing my Achilles. 

“I still think about Kobe every single day. There’s not a day I don’t think about them and not being able to have that last convo,” added Thompson.

Klay Thompson misses Kobe every single day

passed away last January in a tragic helicopter crash.

The five-time NBA champion Kobe has inspired and touched the lives of many NBA players.

Many players look up to him for inspiration, and Klay Thompson is one of them.

Kobe has always meant a lot to Klay and his family, and Klay has expressed this many times in his posts.

This Sunday, he again expressed how he misses Kobe and misses him every single day.

Klay considers him as his favorite player and his team Lakers as his favorite team.

Kobe gave Klay a copy of his book “The Mamba Mentality” with a message.

“Rings, rings, rings, rings,” Kobe wrote Klay. 

Kobe message to Klay(source: google)

Its simple message from Bryant, do whatever it takes to win, no matter the cost which inspires Klay.

Klay tributes Kobe (source: google)

It’s almost two years that Klay Thompson has been out of the NBA league since June 13, 2019, game 6 of the NBA finals against the Toronto Raptors.

He is still recovering from the right Achilles tendon injury that occurred in that game.

also suffered an Achilles injury in his career, but he could come back and play again.

This has given Klay hope that he will also come back and be on the ground with his teammates.

Thompson is also looking forward to accomplishing the same feat as he recovers to come back next season.

Klay aims to return at an all-star level

He expressed how much he misses being on the ground with his teammates during the video conference.

During the interview, he discussed the injuries he sustained the last two years.

He also talked about his rehab process and what he expects from his team upon returning and newfound hobbies.

Like many people, he spent time during the pandemic finding new things to do:

“I realized that all of my hobbies revolved around me being athletic,” he said.

“I realized that I need to get some hobbies that allow me to be more creative because the human body can turn on you sometimes.”

He says he’s now looking forward to the future and wants to get back on the ground soon.

“I plan on being the all-NBA player. I will not settle for anything less”, added Thompson.

He has a lot of pent-up energy and aggression and wants to play basketball, and when that happens, it will be a joyous day, which is what he wants everyone to remember.

“I plan on being the All-NBA player I was. I will not settle for anything less.”

Klay Thompson spoke with media for the first time since tearing his Achilles.

“I anticipate us being right back in contention for a championship again.”

✍️

— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA)

Klay Thompson on his return and his team

When asked about the possibility of playing at the start of next season, Thompson said it’s what his goal is now.

“Absolutely,” he said. “It could be a few weeks after, maybe a month after, but most probably toward the very beginning of the next season.”

Thompson said the support he received from the warrior organization was important during those rehab periods.

Splash Brothers Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry (source: google image)

“Luckily, for me, I got great teammates who helped me a lot,” Thompson said.

The warriors struggle to find consistency without Klay, as they are now with a 20-19 record.

Despite that, Thompson remains confident he can help the warriors get back on the being title contender.

His teammate and another half of the splash brotheralso feels the same about Klay’s return.

“I anticipate us being right back in contention,” Thompson said. “This year has been tough, obviously, with the pandemic and so many new players on the team.”

“I love our group, though. I think we have a great group. These guys come to work every day; they’re eager to be great players. And we still have so much basketball left to play so, although our record doesn’t reflect how good I think we are.” added Thompson.

Even though 2026 was the worst year for Klay Thompson, he looks forward to the future where he hopes to be better and return to the ground slowly but certainly.

He aims to get back up to an NBA player form and return the Warrior to title contender status. When that happens, it will be a joyous day for the Warrior and their fans.

• Check other Articles on

Bikram Jirel

Bikram Jirel is a versatile editor and writer with a deep-seated passion for sports and storytelling. With a keen understanding of audience preferences and trends, he crafts compelling narratives that captivate readers and offer unique perspectives on the world of sports.

Expertise:

Editorial Strategy Trendspotting

Highlights

• Bikram develops strategic editorial plans that align with the publication's goals and objectives, identifying key themes, topics, and trends to cover.
• Bikram utilizes data analytics and audience feedback to inform editorial decisions and optimize content performance.

Experience

Bikram brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his role as an editor and writer. He is committed to delivering high-quality content that educates, entertains, and inspires readers, driving the publication's mission to be a trusted source of sports news and insights.

Related articles

May 18, 2026

May 18, 2026

May 15, 2026

May 15, 2026

Comments

LEAVE A REPLY

Comment: Please enter your comment! Name:* Please enter your name here Email:* You have entered an incorrect email address! Please enter your email address here

Δ

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam.

Share article

- May 18, 2026 Dalton, a graduate of Paynesville High School, passed away at 30. Dalton was born on July 26, 1995, in Paynesville, Minnesota. His childhood was filled...

- May 18, 2026 A Palm Beach Gardens mother is speaking out after her daughter was reportedly mocked, barked at, and filmed by other girls during a local...

- May 15, 2026 Jerry Lee Singleton, a 1974 graduate of DeKalb High School, where he was a standout athlete, has passed away at 70. Singleton was born on...

- May 15, 2026 Residents living along Blackwell Road in Huthwaite are calling for urgent action after a group of children was repeatedly caught kicking front doors and...

- May 14, 2026 Howard Paul Sr., a graduate of Black River High School, tragically passed away. Paul was born on September 15, 1951, to his father, Arthur, and...