Golden State Warriors star Klay Thompson may not have been able to play for the team on their Christmas Day game, but he did raise hopes of his imminent return.

Thompson is still sidelined after sustaining an ACL injury in the 2019 NBA Finals and an Achilles tear before the 2020-21 season. While there were rumbling he would be able to suit up during the week of Christmas, the Warriors decided against it.

Despite that, though, Thompson joined the team in their trip to Arizona to play the Phoenix Suns. He also participated in shooting drills and their group workout session to the delight of everyone who had seen it.

Perhaps the Warriors felt that Klay Thompson is not yet at 100 percent, which is why they opted not to play him. He has been ramping up his conditioning over the past few weeks, even joining their G League affiliate–the Santa Cruz Warriors–to get him to game shape.

However, the Warriors are being cautious, and rightfully so. They want to do everything right to make sure Thompson is physically ready and won't risk reinjuring himself after more than two years of not playing competitive basketball.

There are talks Thompson could return on December 28 against the Denver Nuggets. While it's no Christmas game, it'll certainly be a nice post-Christmas gift.