For the first time since the season went on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, members of the Golden State Warriors suited up for practice at Chase Center. On Wednesday, the Warriors opened their first practice for their voluntary offseason minicamp in San Francisco.
Although the Warriors layoff from Chase Center is over, the team was without four of their core players for day one. While it was expected Stephen Curry and Draymond Green wouldn’t be available for camp, two other players missed the first practice in “The Dubble.”
According to Steve Kerr, both Klay Thompson and Eric Paschall are still going through the NBA’s coronavirus testing protocols. In a post-practice interview with members of the media, the Golden State Warriors coach said he expects Thompson and Paschall to join camp later in the week.
Klay [Thompson] and Eric Paschall are still going through the league testing protocols, so those two we’re not here today. We expect them here later in the week. Draymond [Green] and Steph [Curry] were not here. We did not expect them to come. Everybody else was here, so I think that meant 14 players.
After missing all of the 2019-20 campaign due to the knee injury he suffered in the 2019 NBA Finals, the offseason minicamp will serve as Thompson’s official return to Golden State’s practice floor.
Despite missing the first practice, Thompson was busy getting work in at Chase Center before the Warriors minicamp was underway. The sharpshooting wing shared a photo from inside the Warriors home arena prior to the start of camp. According to Kerr, Thompson has been “looking great” while working out at the facility before camp.
Yeah, he’s doing well. He worked out here at the facility for several days in a row, maybe four or five days in a row with Chris DeMarco and Chris gave me really positive updates. I was here for a couple of those days and got a chance to see him, and Klay looks great, and he says he’s anxious to play, so we’re excited about that.
Thompson’s appearance at minicamp will be the first opportunity he’ll have to join the likes of Paschall, Andrew Wiggins and Marquese Chriss on the court together. The Dubble will be the chance for Thompson to get familiar with some of his new teammates before the Warriors break for a crucial offseason filled with question marks.
Listen to Kerr’s full post-practice interview via Warriors Sound Cloud.