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Could the Golden State Warriors still have the NBA’s best backcourt?

By Justin Fried

TORONTO, ONTARIO - JUNE 10: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts against the Toronto Raptors in the second half during Game Five of the 2019 NBA Finals at Scotiabank Arena on June 10, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO - JUNE 10: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts against the Toronto Raptors in the second half during Game Five of the 2019 NBA Finals at Scotiabank Arena on June 10, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Golden State Warriors
TORONTO, ONTARIO – JUNE 10: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts against the Toronto Raptors in the second half during Game Five of the 2019 NBA Finals at Scotiabank Arena on June 10, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Golden State Warriors (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

The Golden State Warriors will be without star shooting guard Klay Thompson for much of next season. But could they still have the best NBA backcourt without him?

The Golden State Warriors may have lost a talented superstar in Kevin Durant this offseason, but no loss will be more impactful than the loss of star shooting guard Klay Thompson.

No, Thompson didn’t depart to a different team in the offseason like Durant — quite the opposite in fact. Thompson instead re-signed with the Warriors in the offseason to a five-year, $190 million max contract to keep him in the Bay Area long-term.

However, a torn ACL suffered in the team’s final game of the season is expected to keep Thompson out for much of the 2019-20 NBA season. While a return is expected sometime in 2020, his absence will be felt significantly for much of the season.

In his place, the Warriors managed to snag young Brooklyn Nets All-Star guard D’Angelo Russell in the sign-and-trade for Durant. Russell will join forces with Stephen Curry as the two will look to create one of the top backcourts in the NBA.

But for the Warriors, having a star-studded backcourt is nothing new.

For years now, Curry and Thompson have been running the NBA with one of the best backcourts not only in the league, but in NBA history. But now, Russell will replace Thompson — at least for the majority of the season.

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