The Golden State Warriors likely didn’t anticipate grappling with injury troubles right out of the gate this season—especially not involving their star, Stephen Curry. In their recent game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Curry suffered an injury that left fans and the team on the edge, as he limped off the court. With a long season ahead, his absence could be a significant setback. But Draymond Green’s latest updates offer a hopeful outlook, suggesting the Splash Bro’s return would not take a long time, a sigh of relief for the Bay Area side’s management, especially since they are already facing contract issues surrounding rising star Jonathan Kuminga.

via Imago

Recently, Draymond Green and former NBA star Baron Davis sat for a discussion, where they discussed Steph Curry’s injury in the last game. However, when Davis delved into how the floor general’s role would change on Warrior’s roster, with the Chef missing games early season, the GSW forward responded swiftly on the plan while also providing an update on his pal’s recovery path.

“Uh, gotta be more aggressive for sure. I think you know you got to find. I mean No. 1 it was very uplifting and refreshing to see him walking today, absolutely he’s walking pretty good. So, I thought that was that was good to see. Gives you a little more hope than what you initially had when I saw him leave the floor. So that was good,” stated the Warriors #23.

Green then emphasized a “decision-making” role for himself, as he anticipated to see the Warriors finding different spots to score. “We’re kind of running a different offense this year. So, it’s hard for me to say, currently, what that’ll look like for me. But I imagine that shots will come in different areas because of the gravity that Steph pulls. It won’t be there.”

“Without a Steph on the floor, the first open shot you get is probably going to be the best shot that you’re going to get throughout that possession, as opposed to you get an open shot with Steph on the floor, something else still gonna open up once he starts moving because he just draws so much attention,” Draymond Green concluded. We’ve already seen signs of the same, because Jonathan Kuminga, in an October interview, mentioned that he was instructed to “just take” the deep shots, without any hesitation.

Stephen Curry has already made an impact this season, averaging 18.3 points per game and leading the Warriors with 6.7 assists. Losing him for an extended period could be a serious blow to the team’s success this year, but the Splash Bro’s teammate’s recent comments on the Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis give fans a bit of reassurance. Moreover, he also shared the game plan might force Green to be more aggressive in finding spots to score and contribute more from the corner and handling the ball.

Stephen Curry’s injury was on Sunday when he rolled his ankle twice—first, he left the court briefly but returned. Then, unfortunately, the second roll forced him to exit for good, limping off the court, leaving everyone wondering about his status moving forward.

Following the game, Curry underwent an MRI that, thankfully, showed no structural damage but did reveal a left peroneal strain. Although the Warriors haven’t provided a definitive timeline for his return, they’ve announced he’ll be re-evaluated on Friday.

So, it would likely mean that Curry will miss at least two games this week, including tonight’s matchup against the Pelicans. His injury alone has been a major concern, but it’s not the only setback—they’re also navigating challenges with rising talent Jonathan Kuminga.

Jonathan Kuminga’s future in question, as Warriors adjust lineup against Pelicans

Jonathan Kuminga, who’s started all three games for the Warriors so far this season, might be seeing a change tonight against the Pelicans. According to a recent tweet from ESPN’s Shams Charania, “The Warriors are moving F Jonathan Kuminga to bench tonight vs. Pelicans, sources tell me and @kendra__andrews. Intriguing development in a fourth season when no extension was complete for both sides and team has discussed setting him up to take the next step.”

USA Today via Reuters

This change follows Kuminga’s and the Warriors’ inability to agree on an extension before Monday’s deadline. According to Monte Poole of NBC Sports, the 22-year-old forward sought “well beyond” $30 million, a figure GSW felt was a bit steep. As a result, JK is now set to become a restricted free agent after the 2024-25 season, leaving his future with Golden State open to possibilities.

However, the Warriors still hold the option to match any offers Kuminga receives in restricted free agency, so the missed extension deadline doesn’t necessarily signal an end to his time with the Warriors. However, much of Jonathan Kuminga’s future with the team will hinge on his performances this season.

Even, the head coach, Steve Kerr spoke on Kuminga’s status earlier when he said, “I love where JK (Kuminga) is right now because he’s gotten so much better, but he still has room for growth which is the exciting part. So, I’ve talked to him about this upcoming year and what the expectations are. I’m excited about it, he’s excited about it, he loves it here, he’s told me that.”

The hooper’s future with the Warriors may still be up in the air, and with him likely out of tonight’s lineup, Golden State will need to make a few adjustments. One expected change is Brandin Podziemski stepping in for Stephen Curry. Whether the Warriors can push past these early challenges and secure a win against the Pelicans remains to be seen—it’s certainly shaping up to be a test for the team.