After 941 days not playing, it took 40 seconds of game time for Klay Thompson to get his first basket, a floating jumper from about eight feet out.
Thompson’s return wasn’t complete until his first 3-pointer, which came with 1:18 left before halftime and counted as Thompson’s 12,000th career point. His next 3, 2:50 into the second half, gave him 1,800 3’s for his career.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – JAN. 9: Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson acknowledges the crowd as he heads to the locker room after their NBA game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022. SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – JAN. 9: Fans cheer and holds signs for Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson before the start of their NBA game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022. This is the first time that Thompson has played since Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals when he tore his ACL against the Toronto Raptors.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – JAN. 9: Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson reacts after making a 3-point basket past Cleveland Cavaliers’ Cedi Osman in the second quarter of their NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022. The basket was Thompson’s 12,000 career points.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 9: Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson goes up and makes a basket against Cleveland Cavaliers’ Lauri Markkanen in the first quarter of their NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022. SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – JAN. 9: Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson sits with teammates Draymond Green and Stephen Curry before the start of their NBA game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022. This is the first time that Thompson has played since Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals when he tore his ACL against the Toronto Raptors.