To say Zaza Pachulia has had a front-row seat to Klay Thompson’s rehab would be an understatement. In a throwback to 2018, Pachulia has been on the court with Thompson, setting him screens, dishing him passes and trying to get the superstar ready for game action during recent 3-on-3 and 5-on-5 scrimmages at the Warriors practice facility in San Francisco.
Pachulia, a basketball operations consultant for the Warriors, made his debut appearance on the 95.7 The Game’s “Executive Show” which will air on “The Morning Roast” every Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. Listen to the full interview above.
Zaza will be alternating with Warriors president of basketball operations and general manager Bob Myers on the “Executive Show” all season long, so be sure to tune in every Tuesday morning.
When asked by Bonta Hill and Joe Shasky if he played against Klay this past week, the 37-year-old Pachulia scoffed.
“I’m retired, but I still got it,” Pachulia said.
Pachulia and Thompson last shared the court during the 2018 NBA Finals, when the Warriors swept the Cleveland Cavaliers to win their third title in a four-year span. The two reunited on March 24, 2019, when Pachulia returned to Oracle Arena in Oakland as part of the Detroit Pistons in his final NBA season. During that visit, Thompson presented Pachulia with his 2018 championship ring at midcourt.
Klay Thompson gave Zaza his ring 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/T6e3jvxedk
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) March 25, 2019
In the years since their playing days, the two have remained friends. Pachulia said it felt special to be playing with Thompson again this past week.
“We were back on the court together. It felt so good,” Pachulia said. “Honest to god. I enjoyed my last week, it was great. Playing with the guy, setting screens for him and giving some backdoor passes, getting him wide open for 3-point shots and between-the-leg passes. I mean, it was amazing.”
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Pachulia also confirmed that Thompson has been cleared for full contact and gave an encouraging report about the shooting guard’s movement.
“He’s coming along and he’s motivated and he’s playing really well,” Pachulia said. “That’s one of the biggest questions you might have as a fan or somebody who watches, trying to see how he’s looking. He moves really well. That’s really an important part of it.”
Pachulia said he hasn’t played with James Wiseman (meniscus) in a scrimmage yet. Still, he’s looking forward to the next few weeks.
“It’s an exciting month coming up ahead of us, December,” Pachulia said. “I’m very excited for December, not only Christmas and New Year’s and my wife’s birthday, end of December, but most importantly, hopefully we’re going to see those players on the court. I don’t know when. It’s not given it’s going to happen in December, but hopefully it’s going to be December. I like what I see from both players.”
