Ashooh: Klay Thompson's Return Is Start Of New Warriors Dynasty

941 days. That's how long the Warriors were without Klay Thompson.

Now, after missing two seasons recovering from a torn ACL and Achilles, the missing piece to the previous Warriors dynasty is back, and this team feels ready to pick up where they left off at full force.

The energy at Chase Center for Thompson's return had the feel of an NBA Finals game, and now the team with the second-best odds to win another title (+483 consensus) should be looked at as the clear favorite to hang another banner.

No, not the Nets and their chaotic Kyrie Irving juggling, not the Lakers (duh), and no not even the defending champion Bucks are ahead of what's come full circle in San Francisco.

Warriors owner Joe Lacob had the perfect answer to how it felt to have Thompson back when asked Sunday night. “I would tweet, ‘Tonight Chase Center is finally finished with construction,’ ” Lacob said to Yahoo Sports.

It sure does feel like all the pieces are back in place, doesn't it?

Warriors' Patience Paid Off

It's actually pretty remarkable how this organization was managed since they lost to the Raptors in the 2019 NBA Finals. The Warriors' put themselves in position to again compete with essentially a new supporting cast around their staples of Curry, Draymond Green and Thompson. They added youth and depth, taking advantage of some down years with high draft picks and some savvy offseason moves, all while keeping the most important pieces in place, and sitting and waiting for their big return.

Andrew Wiggins has been a perfect fit, no longer held to the standard of "franchise savior" in Minnesota, and instead seen as a No. 3 option who is highly motivated and comfortable with his role.

Jordan Poole did a fantastic job in Thompson's place this year, and even though his role will likely shrink a bit, the 2019 first-round pick is still putting up over 17 points a game and will be another big part of their playoff run this year.

Add the 22-year-old Poole and 26-year-old Wiggins to a group that also includes their last two lottery picks in James Wiseman (20) and Jonathan Kuminga (19), as well as Moses Moody (19), and Golden State not only is set up for the present but for another decade of championship contention.

This is how you run an organization, taking advantage of some lean years, with one eye on the present and the other eye on the future. Yes, there was a little luck involved, but patience was clearly a virtue here.

The future is bright for the Warriors once again, and that's a scary scenario for the rest of the NBA.