Golden State Warriors fans will have to be patient a little while longer before they can see Draymond Green back in action.
Green, who was sidelined for the Warriors’ season opener against the Phoenix Suns due to a sprained left ankle, will also miss the upcoming showdown with the Sacramento Kings at the Golden 1 Center.
Steve Kerr, the Warriors’ head coach, confirmed this disappointing news during an appearance on the “Willard & Dibs” show on 95.7 The Game. However, he did offer a glimmer of hope by mentioning that Green could potentially rejoin the team on their upcoming road trip.
The Warriors’ road trip kicks off with the game against Sacramento, followed by visits to the Houston Rockets and the New Orleans Pelicans. The absence of Draymond Green was keenly felt in the Warriors’ season opener against the Suns. Without their defensive linchpin, the team struggled to contain the offensive firepower of players like Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, Josh Okogie, and Jusuf Nurkic. While the Warriors held their own on the offensive end, the defensive tenacity and leadership that Green provides were sorely missed, ultimately resulting in a narrow 108-104 loss.
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The Warriors will be hoping for a swift return by Draymond Green, ideally in time for their game against the Houston Rockets. This game is seen as a winnable one for the Warriors, but it will be undoubtedly more challenging if Green remains sidelined. The Rockets have strengthened their roster during the offseason, adding players like Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, and Jabari Smith Jr.
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As for the match against the Sacramento Kings, the absence of Draymond Green poses a significant challenge for the Warriors. Sacramento concluded the 2022-23 season with the third-best record in the Western Conference, and their core lineup remains largely intact for the current campaign. Unless star players like Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, and Chris Paul can catch fire, the Warriors face a real threat of falling into a 0-2 hole in the early stages of the season.