Friday night’s Warriors starting lineup was without a key player, but that shouldn’t cause any concern. When the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-how-patrick-beverley-trade-could-impact-future-of-russell-westbrook-at-lakers-2618-20220827-SPD-2618.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Golden State Warriors</a> played their first pre-season game in Japan, head coach Steve Kerr informed the media that Jordan Poole would start in lieu of <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/lonzo-ball-of-bulls-projected-to-make-injury-comeback-this-season-20220930-SPD-2869.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Klay Thompson</a>. The Warriors went on to win 96-87.



While Thompson is free of injury and ready to go for the 2022-23 NBA season, head coach Steve Kerr is taking it slow with the veteran guard in his first full season back from a two-year injury absence. This is especially true in light of the Warriors’ accelerated schedule, which has them playing in Japan so early in the preseason. 



When the team returns to the United States, Thompson’s role with the Warriors will be gradually increased. Meanwhile, Jordan Poole has been promoted to the starting lineup.



<h2>Steve Kerr explains why&nbsp;Klay Thompson is left off</h2>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“Klay won’t play in either game here in Japan. Just feel more comfortable giving him a little more of a ramp up,” Kerr said. “He’s just not quite ready to play at this point, just based on where — we’re so early in camp. We just want to be safe and make sure he gets a good ramp-up before he plays in games.”</blockquote>



After missing time with back-to-back injuries, Thompson returned to the floor on January 9 of last year and helped lead the Warriors to their fourth NBA title in eight years. The 32-year-old had been out of action since Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals. He scored 30 points against the Toronto Raptors and then tore his ACL and Achilles tendon, ruling him out for the entire 2020-21 NBA season.

Warriors guard Klay Thompson to skip pre-season games in Japan - thesportsdrops NEWS

Warriors guard Klay Thompson to skip pre-season games in Japan

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When one talks about the greatest duos of all time, <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-news-draymond-green-reveals-he-is-no-longer-close-to-stephen-curry-and-klay-thompson-1276-20220604-SPD-1276.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Klay Thompson</a> and <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-news-steve-kerr-believes-stephen-curry-is-not-getting-enough-credit-1321-20220606-SPD-1321.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stephen Curry</a> will probably come to mind. The Splash Brothers have won three rings together and are on pace to win <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/stephen-curry-explains-what-he-must-do-for-the-warriors-in-the-nba-finals-1366-20220607-SPD-1366.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">another one</a> this year.



The <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/warriors-star-in-2022-nba-finals-andrew-wiggins-reveals-true-feelings-on-the-cavs-1494-20220613-SPD-1494.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Warriors</a>‘ successes in recent years couldn’t be explained without them, two of the greatest shooters the game has ever seen. However, some people blame them for changing the game.



While the Dubs‘ duo has millions of admirers, other basketball fans preferred the old school basketball. But for Klay, his and <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-news-knicks-missed-out-on-stephen-curry-to-warriors-in-2009-nba-draft-1246-20220602-SPD-1246.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Steph</a>‘s way of playing could be seen as something good for the league.



<h2>Klay Thompson disagrees with claims that say he and Stephen Curry ‘ruined’ basketball</h2>



“Bombing away from three like we do kinda flipped the basketball world upside down,” Thompson told Malika Andrews of ESPN, “and I think we’re seeing that at all levels of basketball now, which a lot of people say it’s ruined the game, but I think it kinda just been an innovative aspect of the game, to be honest.“



Some people may not like the fact that Thompson and Curry sparked a three-point revolution in the league. But that way of playing has certainly paid off for them, so they have no reasons to question it.

Klay Thompson

Warriors guard Klay Thompson to skip pre-season games in Japan

Klay Thompson believes he and Stephen Curry changed NBA for the better

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