Draymond Green has cleared league health and safety protocols and will play Monday night against the Miami Heat, but Klay Thompson will reportedly remain out.
Green missed the past two games due to protocols. The forward is averaging 8.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 1.2 blocks per game in 2021-22.
Without Green, the Warriors went 1-1, losing to Denver but beating the Jazz in Utah. Before the Jazz win, Utah coach Quin Snyder praised Green, endorsing him for MVP.
“I don’t think I have to qualify this by saying no disrespect to Steph or Rudy, but Draymond Green is as unique a player and is having as good of a year,” Snyder said. “If you want to put someone in the MVP conversation, he’s someone to me, that’s — maybe the numbers don’t look as…they don’t match up to the numbers of some other guys put up, but as far as the way he impacts the game, whether it’s his passing, his defense, which, you obviously know how we feel about Rudy’s versatility and the things that he does and Draymond is like that. He just does it in his way.”
Snyder added Green’s leadership has particularly stood out this year for the Dubs, who claim the No. 1 defense in the NBA.
According to Basketball Reference’s MVP tracker, Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo is the favorite with a 30.4% probability. Stephen Curry is currently third with 14.4% odds behind Nikola Jokic (14.8%). Green isn’t in the top-10.
While the Warriors will get Green back in the starting lineup, they still won’t have shooting guard Klay Thompson. Thompson, according to a report by The Athletic’s Anthony Slater, won’t make his season debut in the Chase Center on Monday.
Thompson, who hasn’t played in two seasons because of consecutive torn ACL and torn Achilles injuries, is nearing his return, though. He and the team has indicated he’ll make his much anticipated return at home, and multiple reports have pegged early January as a likely timeframe to circle.
Before recent games, he’s been going through shooting drills on the court with his teammates. He recently hit 24 practice 3-pointers in a row.
Golden State’s next home game after Monday is Sunday, Jan. 9 against Cleveland. After that, GSW hosts the Pistons on Jan. 18 and the Pacers on Jan. 20.
Thompson, who’s been building up his stamina in scrimmages, has drawn rave reviews from his teammates.
