Video: Klay Thompson Gifts NBA Championship Ring to Doctor Who Repaired His Achilles

Dallas Mavericks veteran shooting guard Klay Thompson got to share a special moment with the person who helped him make it back onto the court after he was forced to sit out two full seasons because of injuries.

Following the Mavs' 107-99 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night, Thompson gifted a 2022 Golden State Warriors championship ring to Dr. Richard Ferkel, who repaired his torn Achilles in November 2020.

"Without you, I would not have been the second leading scorer on a championship team," Thompson told Ferkel. "I can’t thank you enough ... I didn’t even think that was possible."

Thompson suffered a torn ACL in the 2019 NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors that caused him to miss the entire 2019-20 season. After preparing to make his comeback the following year, the Warriors announced in November 2020 that he suffered a torn Achilles in a pick-up game that would cost him the entirety of the 2020-21 campaign.

Thompson made his triumphant return to the court in January 2022 and quickly returned to form, averaging 20.4 points across 32 regular-season games and 19.0 points in the postseason as Golden State went on to win its fourth championship in the previous eight years.

While Thompson credits Ferkel with his comeback in 2022, the doctor actually had a hand in the entire Warriors dynasty. It was Ferkel who surgically repaired Golden State star point guard Stephen Curry's ankle in 2012, which helped him have a healthy legendary career that included back-to-back NBA MVP awards.