We’ve all seen the pictures. Ever since being left off the NBA top 75 all-time list, Klay Thompson’s had a bit of a chip on his shoulder. His teammates decided to poke a little fun at him, getting him a custom jersey with the number 77 on it. While Curry and Green have obviously openly supported Thompson, it’s certainly fun to see their chemistry in a place where jokes like that aren’t taken personally.

Plus, it gives us a cool theory. So hear me out on this one.

A friend of mine recently brought up this idea: What if Klay Thompson, this season, changed his number to 77 to prove a point with his comeback?

It’s obvious Thompson’s been frustrated about the list, even directly expressing that frustration both via the media and through his own social media. Clips have been released of him even going through practice with the #77 jersey. He’s got a chip on his shoulder, and a new jersey number may be an excellent way to express that.

77 is an available number for the Warriors on the current roster, and there was even some speculation that Klay got the jersey for himself anyway. Could it be that he’s just waiting to reveal it for his on-court debut? Time will tell.

Regardless of what number he ends up wearing, it’ll be nice to have Thompson back on the court. He’s an obvious boost on both ends to the #1 defense and #2 offense in the league, and should further cement the Warriors as a dominant team. His chemistry with the guys he hasn’t played as many minutes with - such as Jordan Poole - is obvious, and he’s excited about the prospect of joining this already-successful team.

While it’d be a shock for Klay Thompson to make his season debut with #77, and may even rattle some Warriors fans, I think it’s a statement many could get behind. Klay is a top 75 all-time player in most people’s books who actually watch the NBA, and while the voting was done through a variety of sources, Klay’s irreplaceable: There really hasn’t even been someone quite like him in the league before.

Thompson has been rumored to return around the Christmas Day matchup with the Suns. The rest of the Warriors are obviously looking forward to having him back, and NBA’s best team getting any better? Good luck to the rest of the league.

(Photo credit: Golden State Warriors)