With Steph Curry’s record-breaking performance in the books, Klay Thompson’s long-awaited return from injury is the next box to check for the Golden State Warriors.
Yet, the five-time All-Star’s return to Golden State’s rotation is still on hold.
According to Shams Charania and Anthony Slater of The Athletic, the Warriors don’t plan for Thompson to return on Dec. 20 against the Sacramento Kings or on Dec. 23 against the Memphis Grizzlies at Chase Center in San Francisco. His earliest possible return could be on Dec. 28 against the Denver Nuggets, per Charania and Slater.
Via @ShamsCharania on Twitter:
The Warriors do not plan for Klay Thompson to debut on either Dec. 20 or Dec. 23 home games, sources tell me and @anthonyVslater. Thompson won't come back on Christmas. So earliest possible return would be Dec. 28 — with Thompson ramping up conditioning over next couple weeks.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 16, 2021
If Thompson doesn’t return on Dec. 28, the Warriors’ next home games come on Jan. 3 against the Miami Heat and Jan. 9 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The 31-year-old has missed the last two seasons with ACL and Achilles injuries. The last time Thompson suited up for the Warriors was game six of the 2019 NBA Finals.
In a positive step in his looming return, Thompson has been working with the Warriors and their G League affiliate in Santa Cruz after being fully cleared to practice. The Warriors recently recalled Thompson after assigning him to Santa Cruz for increased practice reps.
With the Warriors cruising at the top of the Western Conference at 23-5, the team will likely continue to be patient with Thompson’s long-awaited return to action.
The post originally appeared on Warriors Wire. Follow Warriors Wire on Facebook and Twitter.
