The Warriors will bust out their true starting lineup for the first time this preseason during Friday night’s exhibition finale against the Denver Nuggets.
Golden State coach Steve Kerr announced that Draymond Green and Klay Thompson will play, alongside fellow starters Steph Curry and Kevon Looney. Jordan Poole will be the sixth man, the same role he figures to have in the regular season.
It will be interesting to hear the reaction from the Chase Center crowd when Draymond is announced, as it will mark his first game since punching Poole in the face during a practice altercation last week. You already know that Klay will get a warm welcome, like he did Tuesday night when he came out for warmups.
Thursday marked Draymond’s first practice with the team since taking his leave of absence last week.
"We had a great practice," Green said after. "It was good."
The franchise fined him an undisclosed amount but didn't suspend him. It appears the Warriors have gotten through the hard part of the Draymond-Poole drama and are focused on rebuilding chemistry while going for a championship repeat.
Veteran center Kevon Looney said there was no awkwardness to Thursday’s practice with Draymond back.
“Everything felt pretty normal,” Looney said. “Everybody was loose, the music was playing.”
Still, any interaction between Draymond and Poole on Friday night is sure to be under the microscope.
Klay, meanwhile, has been trying to overcome a mental hurdle of playing non-consequential 5-on-5 action after tearing his Achilles that way in November 2020. Friday will mark Thompson's preseason debut.
Though this group won a title last year, they only had 22 games as unit during the postseason to mesh. Green thinks the Warriors will be able to grow from their championship run.
"I don't doubt for one second that we'll continue to build that," Green said, "and that this group can continue to get better and that there's more levels that this group can reach."
Andre Iguodala looked good in practice Thursday but won't play Friday or in Tuesday's season opener against the Los Angeles Lakers.
