SAN FRANCISCO — Twenty-four seconds. That’s all it took for Klay Thompson to splash his first 3-pointer of the preseason.
Playing in his first exhibition game of the year while trying to overcome a mental hurdle of playing non-meaningful 5-on-5 hoops, Klay uncorked and made the first shot of Friday night’s preseason finale against the Denver Nuggets.
Before the contest, Warriors coach Steve Kerr joked, “I expect (Klay) to shoot every time,” and he wasn’t wrong about the first possession.
Though the stats system was down in San Francisco and in Sacramento Friday night, the Warriors tweeted out that Klay finished the first half with six 3-pointers, though the unofficial postgame stats said he hit five threes and finished with 17 points.
"I felt amazing," Thompson said. "I don't take this time for granted, playing October basketball. I haven't done it in three years. I was so nervous the whole day. I was very anxious. But I'm very happy with how I felt out there."
Thompson started the game with Steph Curry, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green and Kevon Looney as the defending champs busted out their true starting lineup for the first time this preseason.
Klay was hesitant to play full-court 5-on-5 this summer after he tore his Achilles in a pickup game in November 2020, so the fact he played in a preseason game was an accomplishment for him mentally. The points didn’t hurt, as he was clearly having fun running around the court again.
In his postgame press conference, Kerr could only smile when discussing Klay's big night. He recalled Thompson's 37-point quarter from 2015, which he likened to a "religious experience" and said the same energy was flowing through Chase Center Friday night.
"There's just a sense of awe in the gym, where everybody feels connected to Klay and he's just kind of in another world," Kerr said. "Nothing can get in his way. His teammates sense that and there's just this beautiful flow that happens. When he gets hot, that's the vibe. There's just a really cool energy that goes right through the building. Everybody feels it."
Klay admitted he was a bit nervous and anxious to get back on the floor Friday. He knows he'll have butterflies heading into the ring ceremony on Tuesday for the season opener against the Los Angeles Lakers.
"It's gonna be tough to sleep on Monday night," Thompson said. "So happy Chase Center got a championship. It's gonna be a special, special night that Warrior fans will never forget."
