5:31 PM
Klay Thompson, the Warriors' swingman, practiced for the first time since tearing his left and right knees in the NBA finals.
Thompson said it was exciting. It's a blessing to be playing basketball and running up and down the court, it makes coming to work easy. I have to stay patient because I can be too eager to play, but I'm just incredibly grateful to be out there. It's hard to put into words how grateful I am to be playing basketball again, because the work the training staff and I have done over the last two years is really paying off.
Thompson, who was cleared for 5-on-5 work with Warriors support staff last week, has been in great spirits as he nears his return to the floor. Steve Kerr said Tuesday that no return date has been set for Thompson and that they want him to build up his strength and endurance after being off the floor for so long.
"We don't have a target date," Kerr said. We have a number of weeks ahead of us for certain where we're going to play it out, keep letting him scrimmage as often as possible so that he'll build that endurance." We don't have a target date right now, but I think within a few weeks we'll be able to get one.
Thompson seems content to continue working on his rehabilitation and let his body tell him when he'll be ready to play again, in consultation with the Warriors' medical staff. He knows that he'll be on a minutes restriction whenever he does return, but he also knows that he'll be joining a team that has exceeded expectations and is riding a league-best 15-2 record into Wednesday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Thompson was asked if the Warriors could win a title.
He said yes. We're 15-2. I think it's top three in the league as well as our offense, and I'm not even out there yet. Think about that. Think about that. I'm more motivated than ever. I want a title so bad. More than that.
Thompson said that he is motivated by the doubters who think the Warriors can't get back to the top.
I wanted to be on that list. I wanted to be noticed. I didn't get it, but that's fine. How do you get recognition? You will win. I want to win again. He said he wanted to win a fourth ring. I'm still one of the best despite not being able to compete for the last two years.
