How life coach Robbins loudly motivated Klay after injury

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Self-affirmation can be an incredible tool in getting someone's headspace in the right place.

Just ask Klay Thompson. 

While the 32-year-old was waiting to get surgery on his torn right Achilles tendon in November 2020, Thompson repeatedly screamed at himself at the behest of motivational speaker, Tony Robbins, as a way to cope.

"Some of the methods he taught me are so simple and seem so silly when you're doing them," Thompson told ESPN's Ramona Shelburne. "One of them is just literally looking myself in the mirror and screaming, 'I'm a F-----g Warrior.' "

One day during the first month after tearing his Achilles, Thompson was staying in a house in Orange Country when he left the company of his family to go to another room.

Soon after, his family heard the Warriors star screaming, alarming them. 

Thompson's brother, Mychel Thompson, recalled hearing Robbins' voice telling his son to "say it" with his chest that he is a warrior and to pound his chest while doing so. 

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While it might seem odd to some, Thompson believes that kind of talk is beneficial in getting in the right headspace. 

"The power of the spoken word," Thompson continued. "Even just yelling sometimes. It's good for your soul."

Before getting surgery to repair his Achilles, Thompson's leg was placed in a cast and he was instructed to do as little as possible until the swelling got to the point where the tendon was operable.

Until then, Thompson needed to rely on his family and his agent to do even the most mundane tasks for himself. 

"It's hard to get up and brush your teeth or make breakfast ... just the most simple things," Thompson said. "You can't drive a car, so you feel immobilized."

It was during this period that Thompson reached out to Warriors co-owner Peter Guber in order to get in touch with Robbins, whom the Warriors star met in 2018 after the motivational speaker talked with Golden State's players following Guber's introduction. 

Robbins' speech resonated with Thompson, hence why he elected to reach out to him during perhaps one of the toughest periods of his career.

Thompson's journey back to the court after two devastating lower leg injuries shows his determination to keep playing the game he loves.

RELATED: Klay explains why he turned to boating, reading during rehab

Whether it was with a special basketball, purchasing and learning how to properly use a boat, or taking a trip to Mexico to visit Warriors assistant coach Bruce Fraser, Thompson's newfound perspective is something to admire.

And it all began with Thompson shouting and screaming at himself that he is a Warrior -- in more ways than one. 

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