Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Klay Thompson praises ‘backbone’ of Warriors' Draymond Green ahead of return

While the Golden State Warriors have battled through a tough start to the season, which has featured two stretches without Draymond Green on the floor, one thing that appears certain is that his teammates still have plenty of love for him. 

Green, who was suspended once for five games for putting Rudy Gobert in a choke hold and then the second time indefinitely for hitting Jusuf Nurkic in the face, is set to return to the Warriors shortly after being reinstated.

Following Green's return to the team, it's been nothing but praise and love from his teammates, and Klay Thompson was the latest to sound off on the impact it makes when he's not on the floor.

"We missed him dearly and we'll never be the same until he's in the lineup, but we are eager for his return on the court. He is obviously the backbone of this team and heart and soul, so looking forward to just playing and being out there with Draymond again, and he'll be a difference maker," Thompson told reporters.

Green has missed the last 13 games since hitting Nurkic on Dec. 12, a game in which the Warriors dropped 119-116. Including that loss to the Suns, the Warriors are 7-7 since the incident. 

Green should be able to reacclimate himself into the action quickly, and the team will hope he can provide a spark, as they've now lost five of their last seven games heading into Wednesday's matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans.

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