Klay Thompson suffered a concussion during the final game of the series against the Rockets, according to multiple reports.
Klay Thompson couldn’t drive home, threw up after undiagnosed concussion
Thompson passed the concussion protocol and was cleared to return to action but he developed symptoms after the game.
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Thompson was accidentally kneed in the head by Trevor Ariza with 9:31 to go in the fourth quarter. He was taken to the locker room and diagnosed with a right ear laceration that required stitches. The Warriors said he passed the concussion protocol and was allowed to return to action, but he didn't re-enter the game.
Afterwards, Thompson said he wasn’t feeling good and began to develop concussion-like symptoms. Klay’s father, Mychal Thompson, told ESPN’s Mike and Mike that Klay couldn’t drive home and threw up when he arrived at his house.
He will need to pass the league’s concussion protocol before he’s cleared to play. The protocol states that he will be held out from all activity until he’s symptom-free at rest. Once that happens, the player will have to be symptom-free while going through different levels of exertion, from a stationary bike to non-contact drills.
The team’s physician is in charge of making the decision of when the player is ready to return, but will need to discuss the decision with a league’s physician. There is no time frame to complete the protocol, but the long layoff before the start of the NBA Finals gives Thompson a better chance to be ready to go for Game 1 on June 4.
The news comes two days after Stephen Curry suffered a hard fall, was evaluated for a concussion and was cleared to return to action in Game 4.
The Warriors have a history with players passing the concussion protocol and being cleared, only to show symptoms later. Harrison Barnes suffered a head injury that required stitches in Game 6 against the Spurs in 2013, passed the concussion test and was cleared to return, only to develop symptoms soon after and being pulled from the game for good.
Nothing points to malfeasance by league physicians, but instances like these show a need to improve the way the NBA deals with possible concussions during games.
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