Draymond Green to Miss Remaining Preseason Games with Ankle Sprain

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green will sit out the remaining two games of the preseason as he continues to recover from a left lateral ankle sprain, according to the Warriors’ announcement on Tuesday. This puts Green’s status for the team’s regular-season opener against the Phoenix Suns on October 24 in question. While he has been cleared to participate in light on-court workouts, such as shooting drills, he has not yet returned to full team practice or scrimmages. Green will be reevaluated on Sunday to determine his progress.

According to Warriors coach Steve Kerr, Green is currently listed as “questionable” for the regular-season opener. Kerr mentioned that Green felt good during his workout on Tuesday and added that he is moving around and engaging in drill work on the court. The team hopes that Green will be able to play 3-on-3 by Friday and eventually progress to 5-on-5 by Sunday’s practice. Kerr emphasized that he would not rush Green back into a game without having sufficient 5-on-5 action beforehand.

The injury to Green occurred prior to the start of training camp during a pickup game at Chase Center. Green expressed confidence in his ability to heal quickly, stating, “I’m a pretty fast healer — so I feel like I’m improving fast, and it’s good.” Despite not anticipating the injury, Green expressed positivity about the situation, mentioning the excellent performance team supporting him. He believes that the additional time off will contribute to being in better shape when he returns to the court.

In terms of the Warriors’ preseason schedule, they have upcoming games against the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday and the San Antonio Spurs on Friday. Green’s absence will be felt during these games. However, the team is prioritizing his recovery and intends to give him more time to scrimmage before allowing him to participate in a game.

Green, who recently signed a four-year, $100 million contract extension, is entering his 12th season in the NBA. Last season, he played in 73 games despite various nagging injuries to his back, neck, foot, and knee. He missed one month of play two seasons ago due to a back injury.

Additionally, the Warriors provided updates on other players. Cory Joseph, who missed training camp and preseason games due to a lower back strain, has returned to team practice and scrimmages. However, he is currently listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game against the Kings. Rodney McGruder, who is on the Warriors’ training camp roster spot, has cleared the league’s concussion protocol and has resumed full practice. However, he will not be playing against Sacramento as the team wants him to gain more scrimmage experience before participating in a game.