The Golden State Warriors need all the help they can get for the coming NBA season. With Kevin Durant, Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston out of the mix, critics are not giving the Dubs much of a fighting chance.

For the Warriors to make it to the next round, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green need to double their efforts. There is also D'Angelo Russell who Steve Kerr says will play an important role for the Dubs - including covering for Klay Thompson who is recuperating from an ACL injury. Depending on how well he responds to rehab, the 29-year-old could be back before the NBA playoffs come around. However, a new update from his dad, Mychal Thompson could further raise the hopes of Warriors fans.

Speaking to NBC Sports Bay Area Warriors Insider podcast, the 64-year-old retired NBA player hints that his son could resume basketball activities by the end of the calendar year. He reveals that Klay is now walking normally and enthusiastic about getting back late next season.

"Once he gets back up to the bay and is around the team and he's working out . . . he probably won't be on the court doing fullcourt drills until late December or January. So, he's got quite a ways to go. The main thing is to stay dedicated and diligent in your rehab and just continue to work hard and keep that motivation to get back on the court with his teammates."

The elder Thompson compared the case of his son to Zach LaVine of the Chicago Bulls. After undergoing surgery in February 2017, the two-time NBA Slam Dunk champion came back ahead of schedule. Critics believe he could have returned earlier had the Bulls not tanked.

"Doctors are so good now. Modern medicine is so good at repairing these athletes. That's the way I talked to Klay. You're going to be fine. Look at Zach LaVine. He had the same injury and is as bouncy as ever because guys like that work hard to come back. (Klay) will come back stronger than ever."

The Warriors are unlikely to rush Thompson back to action. Right now, Kerr is expected to go with Curry, Green and Russell to fill up the void along with the young and new faces in the mix. But most of the attention will be on DLO who is coming off a breakout season. The Dubs are hoping he can pinch-hit well of Thompson and it appears he is up to the task. Much of this was covered in a previous post.

Klay Thompson
Klay Thompson will enter free agency in 2019 and will be eligible for a max contract from the Warriors. In this picture, Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after he was called for a foul against the New Orleans Pelicans at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California, Jan. 16, 2019. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
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