Minutes before Klay Thompson took the court for the first time in two-and-a-half years, the Warriors announced that Draymond Green would start, but only in honor of Thompson.
Green had experienced left calf tightness during pregame warmups, the team’s official public relations account tweeted. So after the Cavaliers won the opening tipoff, Green lightly jogged over to commit a foul and check out of the game. His stat line in the official box score: 00:07 minutes, zeroes the rest of the way.
Golden State head coach Steve Kerr explained postgame that Green “felt a twinge” in his left calf. Kerr doesn’t know if Green will need to get tests on it, but hopes it’s a short-term ailment.
“It was kind of out of the blue,” Kerr said. “He scrimmaged yesterday and felt fine. Was so excited to play. And then he went out for warmups, his pregame shoot, and he just felt a twinge in his calf. There was no way we were going to risk playing him. He was devastated. He’s been looking forward to this as much as anybody.”
Kerr said Golden State “hatched this plan” at the last minute to let Green start then immediately pull him. He talked to Cleveland head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, and Warriors general manager Bob Myers called Cavs GM Coby Altman; all parties approved it.
So Green took a foul seven seconds into the game. The empty stat line may put a dent in his season numbers. But Thompson doubts Green will care.
“I think Draymond only cares about one thing, and that’s winning,” Thompson said postgame.
A resurgent Green has been as responsible for Golden State’s league-best 31-9 record as any individual player. He’s averaging 8.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, 7.6 points and over a block and steal per game. He leads the NBA in defensive rating and is second in both defensive win shares and defensive box plus-minus.
Thompson said he’s excited to share the court with Green again soon. The 2016-17 Defensive Player of the Year makes Thompson’s life easier on both ends of the court.
Without Green on Sunday, Kevon Looney helped Golden State’s defense limit Cleveland to 84 points. Looney added four steals and a block to a career-high 18 rebounds.
But just as the Warriors thought they were going to be whole with Thompson’s return, Green’s piece got pulled out of the puzzle.