Golden State Warriors: Klay Thompson’s Return Date is Favorable

Looking ahead at the Golden State Warriors’ 2019 season schedule, Klay Thompson’s target return after the All-Star break could not be more favorable.

There are plenty of areas to focus on and dissect since the NBA released its regular-season schedule. The Golden State Warriors will surely circle key matchups as the regular season matters even more than in the past. One portion of the schedule the Warriors and Klay Thompson will surely assess is right after the All-Star break.

Good news for all parties: if Thompson is eyeing that time in late February to make his long-awaited return, it could not be a more favorable stretch of games. The portion of the schedule provides a respectable period for Klay to slowly make his way back to form.

For starters, nine of the Warriors’ initial 11 games after the All-Star break are at home. Klay Thompson has been known to be as durable as they come, as this is the first truly significant long-term injury of his career. But even though he may be among the greatest shooters this game has ever seen, he’s human just like the rest of us.

Expect Thompson to be rusty; no matter the number of practices and scrimmages there is no sufficient replacement for and NBA game. You get back in playing shape by doing just that, playing in an NBA game. The fact that all but two of his first 11 games back will be at Chase Center is a huge boost to his comeback. Klay can be streaky during the season, and if the support of the home crowd behind him assists in any rough patch than the Warriors will gladly welcome it.

Better yet, those two road games don’t require Golden State to travel long or far. The Warriors will travel to face only the Phoenix Suns and the Denver Nuggets during that 11 game stretch. By comparison, those are only one-day trips in the larger picture. Golden State will likely be managing Klay’s minutes early on, avoiding putting too much of a toll on his body. Avoiding the extra travel time should help Thompson’s health as he transitions into playing shape.

Lastly, an overlooked aspect of that initial stretch after the All-Star break is the caliber of opponents the Warriors will face. We know Klay Thompson is one of the ultimate competitors, he wants to play whenever and wherever, especially against the best. One of the iconic memories at Oracle Arena came during its last game, when Klay returned to the court to shoot both free throws, despite having just suffered a torn ACL.

During that stretch after the All-Star break, Klay and the Warriors will face the Houston Rockets, Sacramento Kings, and Los Angeles Lakers during their first four games. The Rockets have re-loaded with Russell Westbrook, the Kings challenged Golden State in each of their matchups last season, and the Lakers have vaulted back into contender status with Anthony Davis joining LeBron James.

Each of those opponents can be a tough matchup in the loaded Western Conference, and the chance for Klay Thompson to see them in his return to action likely excites him. What are the odds that Golden State may very well face one of these opponents in the first round in the playoffs?

Ultimately, the Warriors and Klay Thompson himself want to make sure he isn’t rushed back too soon, but so far the All-Star break has been the targeted date for his return to the court. Both Golden State and Thompson should work diligently to make sure he’s truly in shape for a comeback, but if that is his targeted date, then its a favorable stretch for the All-Star shooting guard to make his return.