November 21st 2024.
The news of De'Anthony Melton's season-ending injury has left the Golden State Warriors and their fans in shock. At just 26 years old, Melton was a key player for the team, averaging 10.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. Despite being sidelined for the past two games, Melton and the team sought out multiple opinions before coming to the difficult decision for him to undergo surgery on his sprained left ACL.
"It still doesn't feel real," Melton shared, visibly disappointed. "Especially because it's so early in the season. But it's something I have to handle and get through in order to come back stronger."
Melton had earned a starting role alongside Steph Curry in the backcourt and had proven to be a valuable asset to the team. In fact, the starting lineup with Melton had been the most successful this season, outscoring opponents by 22.4 points per 100 possessions. Head coach Steve Kerr expressed his disappointment, saying, "I feel so bad for De'Anthony. He was a perfect fit for us and we were so excited to have him. He was clearly going to be our starter next to Steph."
The Warriors had signed Melton to a one-year, $12.8 million deal in the offseason, making him a free agent after the season ends. Unfortunately, this injury comes after Melton had already missed a significant portion of last season due to back injuries. Despite working hard in the offseason to prevent further issues, Melton's knee injury has now put his future with the team in question.
Kerr and Melton have discussed the road to recovery and his upcoming free agency, with Kerr expressing confidence that Melton will come back stronger. However, this injury has also raised questions about Melton's future with the Warriors, as they may only have a limited time to see him in action.
The team will now have to adjust without Melton, starting Lindy Waters III for the third consecutive game. Kerr believes Waters brings a strong two-way presence to the team, highlighting his 3-point shot, passing abilities, and on-ball defense. "You want to stack up as many two-way guys as you can in this league," Kerr explained. "They're not easy to find. Fortunately, we have a deep team and guys will be ready to step up. We just have to keep experimenting with different combinations and put the best ones out on the floor."
The Warriors could potentially apply for a disabled player exception, but their limited spending flexibility may make this difficult. As for Melton, he plans to have surgery in Los Angeles and then join the team in the Bay Area for rehab. When asked if there is a chance he could return if the team makes a deep playoff run, Melton remained hopeful, saying, "You never know. Y'all can ask me around then. I would love to come back and help the team if they make a deep run."
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