Golden State Warriors fly SF Giants flag, wear Belt-inspired captain hats on boat before NLDS Game 5

SAN FRANCISCO — Klay Thompson was part of a crew of Golden State Warriors spotted in a boat on the San Francisco Bay near Oracle Park before Game 5 of the Giants-Dodgers NLDS, but it sounds like the injured NBA star may be showing up on the court sooner than speculated.

A few hours after Warriors stars Steph Curry, Thompson, Draymond Green, head coach Steve Kerr were captured in social media posts from a host of other Golden State players on a boat with a Giants flag flying and some players donning Brandon Belt-inspired captain hats, NBA insider Shams Charania said he had been told that Thompson could be cleared for full practice “over the next month or so.”

Charania, of the Athletic and Stadium, said on the Stadium network’s NBA preseason show, that “from there, it’s just going to be about him ramping up. … When do they feel comfortable with him coming back?”

Thompson has missed the past two seasons after undergoing knee and achilles surgeries. The Warriors have not publicly put a timeline on Thompson’s return to practice or games, although GM Bob Myers and Kerr said recently Thompson’s first game back will be at home. At the time, Kerr noted that “maybe January” would be when Thompson might feel he was ready to play in a game. Charania speculated December or January for Thompson returning to the lineup.

Thursday, Curry posted a photo story on Instagram of the Golden Gate bridge and a Giants flag in the forefront saying “Big day in the bay,” tagging the Giants. Curry’s brother-in-law and Warriors guard Damion Lee posted a photo of himself on the boat in a Giants-themed captain hat. Thompson, the Warriors multi-All-Star hoping to return this season after ACL and Achilles tears sidelined him since the 2019 NBA finals, was pictured in a Belt-style captain hat, too.

Others seen on the boat include 2020 first-round pick James Wiseman and 2021 first-round picks Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga.

Kerr, a Southern California native, is a life long Los Angeles Dodgers fan. Thompson’s brother, outfielder Trayce Thompson, has played for a handful of MLB teams — including the Oakland A’s and Dodgers. Though a Southern California native, too, Thompson said he hated the Dodgers because they cut Trayce, Kerr said in 2018.

“Klay hates the Dodgers by the way after they cut his brother,” Kerr said to reporters back then. “Once they released Trayce. We had a team dinner the other night during Game 7 (of the NLCS) and we had the game on, and Klay walked into the dinner and just blurted out, ‘Go Brewers!’ Simple as that.”

No word on where the Warriors may watch the game — will they stay on the yacht or sit in the stands to soak in the live experience? With an off-day on Thursday and their final preseason game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday, this may be the team’s last chance to relax before the long NBA season begins for them against the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 19.