Draymond Green won’t play for Warriors in season opener vs. Suns due to ankle injury
The Warriors will host the Suns on Tuesday night to kick off the season
Draymond Green isn’t ready to start the season.
The Golden State Warriors veteran was officially ruled out of their season opener against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night due to a lingering ankle injury, coach Steve Kerr announced Monday.
Green went down last month with a left ankle sprain that he sustained during a pickup game at the Chase Center. The injury occurred about a week before training camp opened, and the Warriors expected him to miss four-to-six weeks recovering.
Green missed all five of the Warriors’ preseason games while recovering, but he was cleared to practice with the team fully Sunday. He said Monday that while he felt good, he didn’t “feel all the way 100% myself.”
While he practiced with the team Monday and played in a controlled scrimmage, the Warriors aren’t ready to put him into a live game just yet. It’s unclear when Green will be able to return.
Green averaged 8.5 points last season, which was his best output since the 2017-18 campaign. He also averaged 7.2 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game and earned his eighth spot on the All-Defensive roster in what was his 11th with the Warriors. The 33-year-old signed a four-year, $100 million contract extension in June.
The Warriors went 44-38 last season, and were knocked out of the playoffs in the Western Conference semifinals. After hosting the Suns to open the season Tuesday night, the Warriors will head to Sacramento to take on the Kings on Friday night.
