Golden State Warriors will have a significant absence for the start of the 2025/26 NBA season
The Bay's franchise will not be able to count on De'Anthony Melton, who will be reevaluated in 4 weeks, after the start of the first game of the season.
The Golden State Warriors confirmed on Monday what ESPN had already reported: De’Anthony Melton will not be able to start the season as he continues in the final phase of his recovery from the anterior cruciate ligament tear suffered last season. As announced by the team itself, the guard will be reevaluated in four weeks, while Steve Kerr stated that the hope is to have him back "at some point in the next few months." In the best-case scenario, Melton could return in November, although it will all depend on how his knee responds in the coming weeks.
The 27-year-old shooting guard has had very little consistency in the last year and a half. Since the beginning of 2024, he has only played 14 official games—between regular season and playoffs—first due to back problems and later because of the serious injury in his left knee suffered on November 12, just six games into his time with Golden State after signing a one-year, $12.8 million contract in the summer. Given this history, the Californian team has no intention of rushing his recovery.
Golden State's Options
On the same Monday, the Warriors officially announced a new deal with Melton: a two-year minimum-salary contract with a player option for the second season. The negotiation had been on the table for months, but the franchise wanted to wait to resolve the contractual situation of Jonathan Kuminga before committing, in order to have clarity on their salary cap space.
In the meantime, Steve Kerr will have to reorganize his backcourt rotation. Players such as Brandin Podziemski, Gary Payton II, Buddy Hield, and Moses Moody are the main candidates to fill Melton's minutes at the start of the season. For a team that needs balance between scoring and perimeter defense, the absence of the former Sixer presents an added challenge in a season start where there will be no room for doubts.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Golden State Warriors tendrá una baja importante para el inicio de la temporada NBA 2025/26
