Following the Warriors' 118-103 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Nov. 26, 2021 at Chase Center, a powerful image went viral across the NBA landscape.
An emotional, and visibly distraught Klay Thompson lingered on the Warriors bench well after the final buzzer sounded, with a towel draped over his head.
Mired in a two-year long rehab and less than six weeks away from his eventual return on Jan. 9, Thompson for the first time displayed publicly the emotional toll of his NBA absence.
Many wondered at that moment if there was a setback in Thompson's recovery, or if perhaps something else had occurred to create this significant scene.
When Thompson joined the latest episode of Dubs Talk, he poured out his memories and emotions from that night.
The full interview with Thompson will air Saturday during "Warriors Live: Playoff Edition" at 4:30 p.m. PT on NBC Sports Bay Area Plus.
Here is what he had to say when asked about how far he has come from that moment, and what he was feeling when cameras captured him:
"I remember that night like it was yesterday. I was in this crazy cycle of rehab for so long, and I was really close to return, but I just couldn't believe it, you know? I was kind of feeling sorry for myself and I was feeling like 'Why did this happen?' and 'Why did I have to lose that time? Why did I ... ', just those questions, I was thinking what more could I have done?
"Because that 75th [NBA Anniversary] team, I know it is whatever, but it did serve as motivation for me, I felt like I did enough in this decade to be considered one of the guys, but I was thinking like 'Man, if I didn't get hurt, and if I would have won this, or if I would have done this the last two years, would I have been on that team?' I just had all these ridiculous thoughts in my head and I just let my emotions get the best of me.
"I am very thankful for Steve [Kerr], and Steph [Curry], and Draymond [Green] and Andre [Iguodala]. They really helped me that night, because it allowed me to see what was ahead, because I remember in that moment I was like 'Gosh, is this ever going to end?' and 'Will I be the same player again?' because I hadn't been through the rehab stuff at any point in my life. I just had those thoughts, and it was just a moment of weakness for me. But it was just like an emotional volcano.
"Since then I have been doing great, being back on the court, through the ups and downs of the season, it has been a real blessing."
RELATED: Kerr believes Klay traditionally at his best in playoffs
When reminded that his teammates and Warriors fans believe he should be on the NBA 75th Anniversary Team, Thompson reiterated the motivation factor.
"It's just fuel for the fire. And you know, if we win one or two more, and if I do what I am supposed to do, it is like hopefully I will be on it at the century mark," Thompson said.
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