Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green sprained his left ankle in a pickup game at Chase Center earlier this week, a team source confirmed to The Athletic on Saturday. Here’s what you need to know:
- Green is expected to miss the start of training camp next week and a firmer timetable for his return could emerge at Media Day on Monday when Green is expected to address reporters.
- The Warriors begin practice Tuesday and open the preseason next Saturday night against the Los Angeles Lakers.
- Golden State’s season opener is on Oct. 24 against the Phoenix Suns at Chase Center. The opener will be a little more than three weeks from the ankle sprain.
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
How significant is this for the Warriors?
The Warriors started the season horribly a year ago. After the preseason punch drama, they limped out to a 3-7 record that had Steve Kerr scrambling. In response, Kerr has mentioned the need to start significantly stronger this season as a way to stabilize the waters. This hurts that quest.
Green will miss some important practices and, if the ankle sprain doesn’t heal quickly enough, he could be forced to miss some early games.
But it’s not a devastating development. Ankle sprains are common in the NBA. Green has had plenty of them. This will give Jonathan Kuminga, Dario Šarić and even rookie Trayce Jackson-Davis some additional reps in training camp and the preseason.
Green was said to be in good shape entering camp. This will surely throw off his rhythm a bit. But it shouldn’t be a long absence.
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