The Golden State Warriors officially announced Klay Thompson would miss the entirety of the 2019-20 season due to a knee injury he suffered in the 2019 NBA Finals.
Thompson won’t play a game for the Warriors this season, but there is still a chance he could lace-up for Team USA over the summer. Thompson was named to the 44-man preliminary roster for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics edition of Team USA basketball.
Thompson’s chances of making the final 12-man Olympic roster hinges on the health of his knee. As the injured “Splash Brother” is progressing through his rehab, the possibility of Thompson playing in the Olympics hasn’t been ruled out.
Before the Warriors played the Houston Rockets, Steve Kerr spoke to reporters, offering insight on Thompson’s chances of making Team USA.
Via Anthony Slater of The Athletic:
It’s not off the table — it’s still a possibility. We haven’t really discussed it. I think the team meets in July, so it’s still quite aways away, but it’s really not anything we’re discussing at this point. It’s just still a possibility.
Steve Kerr said it’s still possible Klay Thompson competes in Olympics. He hasn’t seen Klay sprinting/jumping yet, but he will increasingly do more on the floor, behind the scenes, in upcoming weeks, as season nears an end. pic.twitter.com/DGJhFTzR8b
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) February 21, 2020
According to Marc Stein of The New York Times, Thompson is still in contention for a roster spot on Team USA as he continues to rehab his knee.
Thompson, though, remains in contention for a spot on the United States' 12-man roster for the Tokyo Olympics. @usabasketball will finalize that roster in June and Klay is said to be making good progress in his recovery from a torn left ACL in Game 6 of last season's NBA Finals
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 21, 2020
If Thompson’s knee is fully recovered in time for Team USA’s trip to Tokyo, it’ll be his second appearance in the Summer Games. Thompson was apart of Team USA’s run to gold in the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.
Thompson tallied 9.9 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 21 minutes per contest in the 2016 Olympic Games.