Draymond Green has warning for Klay Thompson ahead of his return

Draymond Green thinks that Klay Thompson could be in for a bit of a rude awakening after two-and-a-half years out of NBA action.

The Golden State Warriors defensive star spoke with reporters this week and gave a warning for Thompson ahead of the sharpshooter’s much-awaited return.

“It’s funny because me and [teammate Kevon Looney] will joke about the positioning in the NBA today,” he said, per The Athletic’s Anthony Slater. “We joke with Klay. Like, ‘Klay, this ain’t the NBA you left, brother. You coming back, you gonna be a stretch 4.’ It’s the way this league works now.

“Point guards that were kinda hybrid guards, they are now 4s … maybe a 3,” added Green. “They’re aren’t point guards now. It isn’t the same league.”

Green’s warning to Thompson here is obviously a bit in jest, but there is definitely truth to it. On Monday night against the Sacramento Kings, the Warriors went with a late lineup of three traditional guards (Steph Curry, Gary Payton II and Damion Lee) to go along with Green and Otto Porter Jr. Before he got hurt, the 6-foot-6 Thompson already played a decent amount of small forward. It would not be too surprising to see him move up a spot to the 4, especially so he doesn’t have to chase speedy wings upon returning.

The five-time All-Star Thompson appears to be nearing a specific return date. Green thinks that he should probably keep his head on a swivel because the game could look a lot different from the last time that Thompson played it.