Warriors' Chris Paul 'Close' to Return From Hand Injury, Steve Kerr Says

Chris Paul hasn't played since Jan. 5 because of a fractured left hand that required surgery, but he is apparently on the verge of returning.

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said Paul will not play in Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers but is "close," per ESPN's Kendra Andrews. Paul participated in practice Wednesday and will need to test his conditioning before a full return.

The 38-year-old is a future Hall of Famer and one of the best point guards in NBA history, but there were some questions about how he would fit in with the Warriors at this stage of his career.

He didn't get a significant sample size to prove himself before the setback and has appeared in just 32 games this season. He averaged 8.9 points, 7.2 assists and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 42.4 percent from the field and 36.1 percent from deep in those contests.

The 12-time All-Star is about to come back right as the Warriors are hitting their stride.

Golden State has dealt with inconsistency for much of the season, but it went 8-2 in its final 10 games ahead of the All-Star break with Stephen Curry leading the way and Klay Thompson showing more of his old form than he has for much of the campaign.

Suddenly, the Warriors look like they could be quite the threat in the Western Conference with so many proven and notable veterans on their roster even though they are still in 10th place and in position to make the play-in tournament.

Paul's return won't be as impactful as it would have been in the peak of his career, but he is still someone who can run the offense, hit from midrange and set up Curry and others for open looks when defenders collapse.

He would also represent important depth as the Warriors look to make their final push ahead of the playoffs.