SAITAMA, Japan >> Klay Thompson’s preparation for the upcoming season seemed to hit a snag in Japan.

Coach Steve Kerr announced Friday that Thompson won’t play in either of the Warriors’ two preseason games at Saitama Super Arena this weekend, citing concerns over the team’s condensed preseason schedule.

Thompson went through his full warm-up routine ahead of Friday’s preseason opener against the Washington Wizards. He ran a few lateral drills at center court seemingly without issue before heading back to the locker room.

About an hour later, Kerr declared Thompson out for both of the Warriors’ exhibition games in Japan, saying he wasn’t quite ready for live action after missing significant time due to injuries.

“Just feel more comfortable giving him a little more of a ramp up,” Kerr said. “He’s just not quite ready to play at this point just based on where, you know, we’re so early in camp. We just want to be safe and make sure he gets a good ramp up before he plays in games.”

Jordan Poole started in Thompson’s place Friday. He joined the Warriors’ usual starting five, featuring Stephen Curry, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green and Kevon Looney.

Thompson tore his ACL during the 2019 NBA Finals. Seventeen months later, Thompson was sidelined again, this time with a ruptured Achilles tendon. After being out for 2 1/2 years, Thompson made his highly anticipated return to the court in January.

He got off to a slow start but showed flashes of his previous self in 32 regular-season games before finding his groove in the playoffs. Thompson said last week at media day that he was looking forward to playing an entire season for the first time in three years.

Asked whether Thompson’s conditioning or health was a concern, Kerr said the conclusion to shelve their versatile two-way wing was based on “common sense.”

“Just coming off the two years with the injuries, this is really unique to play a game after 3 1/2 practices, so we’re just being cautious and trying to do the smart thing,” Kerr said.

Thompson revamped his offseason program this summer, putting more of an emphasis on diet, strength training, stretching and mobility exercises.

“I went very hard, but I didn’t play a lot of five-on-five because the last time I did that in the off-season, it ended awfully with tearing my Achilles,” Thompson said last week. “But I kept myself in good shape, and I will be ready to go by the 18th.

“And I’m hungry as ever still because I still remember those two years I had to watch. I’m eager to play a full season and show people what I’m capable of again.”

But fans wanting to see Thompson back in action will have to wait until the Warriors return stateside.

Golden State will play another game Sunday in Japan before returning to San Francisco. They’ll have eight days of rest and practice before opening the rest of their three-game preseason slate Oct. 10 against the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Warriors’ season opener is Oct. 19 against the Lakers.

Wiseman leads way in win >> James Wiseman played well in his first NBA game in 1 ½ years, giving the Saitama Super Arena crowd of more than 20,000 a lot to cheer about in the Warriors’ 96-87 win.

Wiseman finished with a game-high 20 points on 8-for-11 shooting, throwing down five dunks, including an alley-oop in the second quarter off an assist from Curry. He also grabbed nine rebounds playing just under 24 minutes off the bench.

Wiseman moved up and down the floor all night with ease. He said he had some jitters returning to court, though those nerves weren’t apparent to anyone watching.

“This is my first game in two years but I just went out there and just played my game and just be myself,” he said. “I wasn’t trying to do something outside my boundaries. Just keep the game simple, and just be myself out there.”

Wiseman’s development over the next two weeks will be one of the biggest storylines to follow as he heads into a pivotal Year 3 after missing all of last season due to a persistent knee injury.

No other Warriors scored double digits. Curry (six points) and Green (four points, eight rebounds) each played 13 minutes.

Rookies Patrick Baldwin Jr. and Ryan Rollins made their preseason debuts off the bench, as did undrafted newcomers Lester Quiñones and Trevion Williams as well as free-agent signees Donte DiVincenzo and JaMychal Green.