Warriors’ Draymond Green ruled out for season opener vs. Suns
Oct 23, 2023, 2:22 PM | Updated: 5:21 pm
Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors looks to pass around Jae Crowder #99 of the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center on December 25, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green will miss the 2023-24 season opener against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday with an ankle sprain, head coach Steve Kerr said, according to ESPN’s Kendra Andrews.
Green injured himself in late September and missed all of Golden State’s preseason. He returned to 5-on-5 action on Sunday but head coach Steve Kerr said the ramp-up to play the opener days later was too much of an ask, according to Andrews.
Green averaged 8.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game last season.
His absence puts off a decision for Kerr on what will be the Warriors’ regular started group, a question prompted by the offseason acquisition of Chris Paul. The former Suns point guard was traded to Golden State from the Washington Wizards following the initial deal that swapped the max contracts of Paul and new Phoenix guard Bradley Beal.
Paul has started every one of his 1,214 regular season games over the course of his NBA career but could come off the bench for Golden State’s standard starting lineup that includes Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Green and Kevon Looney.
Suns injuries for season opener vs. Warriors
For Phoenix, starters Devin Booker (sore toe) and Bradley Beal (back tightness) were held out of practice on Sunday. They are questionable for the game Tuesday.
They went through practice Monday, according to head coach Frank Vogel, and were hopeful to respond well and play in the road opener.
