Young has some catching up to do
SHANGHAI — It has been a less-than-ideal preseason for Warriors guard Nick Young.
He arrived at training camp two weeks ago a bit out of shape and now is doubtful for Sunday’s exhibition against Minnesota with a right hip contusion.
“He’s a little behind, but I’m not worried,” Golden State head coach Steve Kerr said. “I’m not worried. It’s a long season. … Nick will get there, but it has been a slow start.”
Young, 32, was brought in three months ago at one-year, $5.2 million to help replace Ian Clark’s production off the bench. This is a player who has averaged 12 points on 41.9 percent shooting from the field and 37.6 percent from threepoint range over a 10-year career that has included stops with the Wizards, Clippers, 76ers and Lakers.
Last season, while playing in a similar offensive system as the Warriors’ under Kerr protégé Luke Walton in Los Angeles, Young averaged 13.2 points per game, shot 40.4 percent from three-point range, posted the lowest turnover rate of his career and started all 60 games he played.
Late in Thursday’s exhibition loss to the Timberwolves, Young took a hard spill and walked gingerly to the locker room. He finished the game with seven points on 3-for-8 shooting (1-for-5 from threepoint range) in 16 minutes.
“He’s doubtful for (Sunday),” Kerr said of Young, who didn’t practice with the team Friday. “I suppose he could play, but I don’t know why he would.”
Added associate head coach Mike Brown: “We have a lot of guys that were here last year. So when Nick does catch up, he’s going to be very good for us when he does. But in the meantime, we have guys that can step up and fill any void that comes up by him not being here or not practicing.”
Thompson’s toaster: Early Friday morning, after the team arrived at its hotel in Shanghai, a Chinese fan had Klay Thompson sign a bright yellow toaster. It came seven months after a Bay Area fan had Thompson sign a toaster at an autograph signing, an odd request that rippled through social media and, according to some, helped spur Golden State to its second NBA title in three years.
“That was really thoughtful of that guy,” Thompson said of the fan with the toaster in Shanghai.