Kerr states Draymond ‘questionable’ for Warriors’ season opener originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
There is uncertainty surrounding Draymond Green’s availability for the Golden State Warriors’ season opener against the Phoenix Suns as he continues to recover from an ankle injury.
“I think opening night is questionable,” revealed Golden State coach Steve Kerr during an interview on 95.7 The Game’s “Willard and Dibs” show. “He’s not going to play this week. But he is making significant progress. He’s moving much better, and he joined us on the recent trip, engaging in individual workouts.”
In a pickup game at Chase Center in late September, Green sustained a left ankle sprain after landing on Jonathan Kuminga’s foot. As a result, his participation in training camp has been limited during the Warriors’ preseason games.
While Kerr and the Warriors would like to have Green back as soon as possible, they are not rushing his return for the 12th NBA season of the 33-year-old player.
“Whether he plays on opening night or in the second week of the season, I’m not overly concerned,” Kerr stated. “It’s a long year, and we prioritize Draymond’s health. We need him on the court because our defense is one of the best when he’s present.”
“If he’s not available early on, it’s alright. We have great depth, and we’re excited about the team’s capabilities to withstand injuries compared to last year,” Kerr added.
In the absence of Green, the Warriors started Chris Paul, Steph Curry, Andrew Wiggins, Klay Thompson, and Kevon Looney as the starting five in two preseason games. If Green remains unavailable, it is likely they will continue with this lineup on opening night.
Speaking at Warriors Media Day on Oct. 2, Green expressed optimism about his recovery, saying, “I feel good. I feel like I’m improving rapidly. I’ve always been a fast healer, so I believe I’m progressing quickly. Although I didn’t anticipate this injury at the start of the season, I believe everything happens for a reason.”
Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast
This embedded content is not available in your region.
Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
