Warriors guard De’Anthony Melton has been diagnosed with a sprained ACL in his left knee and will undergo additional testing, the team announced (via Twitter). A return timeline has yet to be established, but the 26-year-old will miss at least Friday’s game vs. Memphis.
It’s an unfortunate development for both Melton and Golden State. The former second-round pick had played well the past two games — both victories — starting in the backcourt alongside Stephen Curry, averaging 16.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals on .478/.500/.667 shooting in 26.6 minutes per contest.
While he was able to finish the game, Melton was limping late in the fourth quarter of Tuesday’s win over Dallas, tweets Anthony Slater of The Athletic.
Melton just returned to action last week after missing five straight games with a back strain. He was also hampered by back problems in 2023/24 for Philadelphia, causing him to miss 40 of the final 45 regular season games.
A versatile defender who contributes in multiple areas on the court, Melton will hit free agency again next summer after signing a one-year, $12.8MM contract with Golden State over the offseason. Gary Payton II, Brandin Podziemski and Moses Moody are among the candidates for more playing time with Melton out.
Moses Moody here’s your chance. I hope you make the most of it. Melton should be out about 2-4 weeks my guess.
It will be Podz who will take Melton minutes
Yes Podski will take some but he has been shooting horribly. I mention that because this is essentially the shooting guard spot.
I’m thinking Moody will get a chance to show if he can play a bigher role for at least a week or so. Now is his big chance and I certainly hope he can take advantage of it.
Moody is shooting 14-43 44.2% from 3 in 178 MP
Podzi is shooting 8-41 19.2% from 3 in 255 MP
I think Moody’s biggest learning curve is playing alongside Steph. That “secondary scorer” role is actually quite tough to do, a lot of guys get gun shy and are always looking for Steph, and some guys like Podzi overthink that to the point where they are passing up an open Steph to throw bricks. It’s gotta be a mix of both. Buddy and Melton are doing this perfectly, hopefully Moody saw that and can do the same.
Not in my opinion. Podz is playing fewer minutes til he gets right. Gary is right… needs to be Moody. Only Moody can make it work for Moody but all of us are just waiting….time is now. Very pressure free to be perfect. Different than stealing Klays minutes. He’s been efficient. Now lengthen that out.
Aren’t you the dude who has been singing praise for Podz while he sucks? Podz almost lost us the whole game the other night.
It’s BEEN time for Moody to play.
Your very first post ever was earlier today or sometime last night. How do you know who I am?
Unless you took all day today to go back and read 4 months of comments since the summer and the draft LOL or could it be a username change perhaps?
My point would be that I’m not hating on anyone. So if one player is injured another player on my favorite team the Golden State Warriors, should STEP u3p with the opportunity.
I’m hoping Moses Moody can STEP UP and I’m voicing that here.
Bummer. And terrible for a guy in his contract year. A big blow to GSW in any other year, but Podz, Hield, GP2, and Moody can fill in ably.
Assuming no tearing to the ACL (which we don’t know), best case is Melton returns 4 weeks. But I gotta think Kerr will now view Melton as too injury prone (this is the third different injury since pre-season) to count on for the starting lineup.
Worst possible news because Warriors were finding their identity. That being said, melton had history with injuries. It’s the same situation with GP2 and Wiggins. They were 2 of my favorite players during our last title run. But then, they have really gone unreliable last 2 yrs for whatever reasons. They were simply not available. Hopefully, they are both ready to go for the whole year but I do have my doubts.
Maybe Melton’s injury, assuming he returns in 1-2 months, is a blessing in disguise?
Just as the team was elevated by winning multiple games without Steph, Melton’s absence gives Podz, Moody, and JK more chance to contribute. The more contributors, the greater the collective spirit.
Most of the league has injured starters. We should expect to have more injuries because we’re no different. The value of a deep bench is in maintaining quality of team play when injuries happen… not in being able to play 13 guys in 1 game.
It definitely is for Podz and Kuminga. I suspect GP2 will get more minutes too. Moody is definitely improved from last year especially in confidence and more assertive.
Podz has not looked right since getting sick. Hopefully he gets back to the way he was playing. GP2 will get the minutes since Melton defense will be missed. Melton is not a guy any team will give a big contract to since he is always hurt.
People really don’t get how badly illness and weight loss can affect athletes. If he lost even a couple pounds, it could throw his entire body out of whack. Look at what happened to Garland after losing 14 pounds because he couldn’t eat through a broken jaw. Was never right again the whole year.
Trade Melton, Payton and a 1st for a C
Hmmm… how bout no Scott
In the last 15 years, only 2 times in the last 4 minutes of a game has a single player changed a game from a 2 possession deficit to a 2 possession lead to end the game by being the only player to score all the points between both teams (ending the game on a 10-0 run for the player in both cases):
Lebron James, April 16, 2012 vs New Jersey Nets
Steph Curry, November 12, 2024 vs Dallas Mavericks
Steph is not old. Old players don’t do that. We are witnessing the longest prime ever in NBA history. He might go til he’s 45-50 for real.
You had me Davey until you’re very last sentence.
That was quite a performance though and as Klay said, it’s great when he’s on your team but it sucks when he’s on the other side.
50 is crazy, I think he might go until like 42
Even that would be shocking for a point guard. Most PGs can’t even handle the game as long as Steph already has, certainly not at such a high level.
I say he retires in four more years. Not because he can’t keep playing, but because the mileage on his body is starting to impact him off the court by that point. I don’t think anyone has spent more time running up and down NBA courts other than LeBron, whose career is like six years longer.
I have said his approach to his body seems Tom Brady like. But 45 in any sport is nuts when you factor the ankle abuse our guy has endured. I could see his game changing and evolving into a passer first game where he isn’t required to ball screen as much….. let’s be honest. It’s about this year and right now. And I’m not gonna miss it. It’s must see TV right now
NOOOOOOOOOOOOO :( :( :( :( :(