Recovering from an injury takes willpower, both physically and mentally.
Klay Thompson had a familiar shoulder to lean on throughout his own rehabilitation process thanks to his former Warriors teammate Shaun Livingston, who just so happens to know a thing or two about overcoming mental hurdles after a devastating injury.
Ahead of Golden State’s Game 5 NBA playoff matchup with the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, Livingston stopped by Warriors Pregame Live and told the NBC Sports Bay Area crew about his impact on Thompson’s 941-day recovery from both an ACL and Achilles tear.
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“As you know, injury is a part of the game, right?” Livingston said. “And a lot of the times, we don’t necessarily talk about it and especially about the mental side of things, which is really the biggest hurdle.”
Livingston, who was a three-time NBA champion with Thompson and the Warriors before taking on a front office role with the organization in 2020, suffered his own season-ending knee injury in 2007 as a 21-year-old playing for the Los Angeles Clippers.
The injury was so bad, Livingston had to learn to walk all over again.
Having successfully rebounded from the injury to eventually help the Warriors win three NBA titles, Livingston gave Thompson a front row seat to what a full recovery can look like during those years.
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When the Splash Brother faced a grueling rehabilitation of his own, Livingston was there for him and understood just how hard the mental aspect could be.
“Physically, you’re going to try to do your best as part of your job working your way back, but mentally, I had some really rewarding times driving [Thompson] home, giving him rides after games last year,” Livingston said. “He’s been itching to get back out there. [It’s] so rewarding to see him now in the playoffs doing his thing.”
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Thompson came into Game 5 with the most 3-pointers in the playoffs this season, signifying that one of the most lethal shooters in the game is officially back. After returning to the court on Jan. 9, he went on to average 20.4 points per game during the remainder of the regular season.
As he continues to impress in the playoffs, Thompson is surely thankful for those long car rides and meaningful chats with Livingston as he and the Warriors hunt for another NBA title.