Draymond Green injury update: Warriors forward out for season opener vs. Suns due to ankle sprain
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has been ruled out of the season opener against the Phoenix Suns due to an ankle sprain suffered prior to the start of training camp, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania. The Warriors released an update on Green’s status on Sunday.
“Warriors forward Draymond Green, who suffered a sprained left ankle during off-season workouts and missed all five of the team’s preseason games, continues to make good progress,” the team’s statement read. “He has been cleared to begin practicing with the team (5-on-5) and his return to game action will be based on his continued progress as he works his way into game-like condition.”
Green added it won’t be long until he’s on the court.
“I do feel good,” Green said, via ESPN. “I don’t feel all the way 100% myself, but I’m getting there.”
Green suffered the ankle injury during a pickup game in late September, as first reported by Jason Dumas of KRON4 and later confirmed by Green to Andscape’s Marc J. Spears. At the time, Green said that he expected to miss at least a month with the injury, adding that he “dodged a bullet.”
After recovering from a serious back injury suffered during the 2021-22 campaign, Green played 73 games last season, earning a second team All-Defensive selection and leading the Warriors in assists, while logging his highest scoring average since 2017-18.
There were rumors Green might seek a change of scenery during this summer’s unrestricted free agency, but instead he agreed to a four-year, $100 million deal to stay in Golden State.
“We’re really excited to have Draymond back,” Kerr said in early July. “He’s been such a huge part of this decade run and, as he showed this past year, he still has plenty left in the tank. … Given that he plays so well with Steph [Curry] and Klay [Thompson], it was really a no-brainer to try to bring him back.”
An injury before the official start of training camp wasn’t ideal for the Warriors as they begin to acclimate offseason acquisition Chris Paul into the mix, but the organization is certainly taking a long-haul approach to this season, hoping that everyone is healthy and productive by the time the playoffs roll around.
