Klay Thompson injury update: Cleared for all practices?

NBA reporters claim Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson is cleared for full participation at practice. Warriors coach Steve Kerr says differently.

Journalistic insiders get the credit when breaking the biggest headlines, but they also face criticism when conflicting reports emerge.

The Athletic’s NBA insider, Shams Charania, was the first to break the news that Klay Thompson has been cleared to be a full participant at all Warriors practices, according to sources. Those sources told Charania and Anthony Slater that Thompson is expected to return to the court within a week of Christmas.

But Mark Haynes of ClutchPoints heard differently. According to Haynes, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said no one has told him that Thompson is fully cleared to practice with the team.

“I don’t know where that came from.”

What’s going on with Klay Thompson’s injury

While the expected Christmastime return has been widely reported, apparently Thompson’s clearance to fully practice hasn’t been cleared with the Warriors head coach.

The clearance to participate in full contact practices and 5-on-5 scrimmages was given to Thompson last week while Golden State continued their win streak during an East Coast tour. Thompson stayed in San Francisco to train with Warriors staff, and according to Charania’s report, the 5-on-5 went so well that Thompson is now cleared for full participation.

Where the sources diverge is that Thompson’s speedy recovery and impressive practices allowed him to be cleared as a full participant at Warriors practices.

Perhaps those sources were athletic trainers with firsthand knowledge of Thompson’s development who, with full knowledge of his injury recovery, gave the go-ahead to clear Thompson. But if the Warriors head coach is unaware, it means that whatever clearance Thompson was given remains unofficial, because Kerr doesn’t appear to approve of Thompson returning to his court so soon.

Or, perhaps Kerr is channeling his inner Popovich and refuses to give the media any updates on Thompson’s actual status.

In any case, hopeful Warriors fans can find solace in what is verifiably known: Thompson is healing, Thompson is practicing, and Thompson will be back soon.