Golden State star Stephen Curry is expected to play in the Warriors’ season opener against the host Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday after receiving a brief injury scare over the weekend.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Curry will be fine after he suffered a right ankle injury during the team’s open practice in San Francisco on Sunday.
Curry’s health is one of many question marks for the Warriors entering the season. The 38-year-old guard was limited to 43 games last season while dealing with a lingering right knee injury.
Golden State begins the season with several key players on the injured list, including Moses Moody, Jimmy Butler and Kristaps Porzingis. Moody and Butler are not expected to return until January while recovering from knee injuries.
Porzingis is out indefinitely because of a health issue, which means Draymond Green will likely have an expanded role at center.
The 36-year-old Green remains central to Golden State’s success, both as a defensive anchor and as a playmaker in the team’s evolving offensive system. Al Horford, 40, will provide support, but his minutes will need to be managed carefully. The Warriors also expect to lean on 6-foot-9 center Charles Bassey, 25, who played for four teams last season.
“Charles is big, and he’s a talented player,” Kerr said. “He’s a great young guy, very young player, very coachable. I’m a fan, so he’s going to make an impact for us this year for sure.”
The Warriors also need to manage the workload of Curry, who is entering his 18th season. Golden State hopes to keep its star guard healthy while incorporating a new offensive approach that asks Green to play differently.
Kerr remains comfortable with Green handling center responsibilities, particularly with the arrival of promising 6-foot-9 rookie Yaxel Lendeborg.
“It’s different now that we have Yaxel,” Kerr said. “We don’t feel so small if Draymond’s the five this year, with Yaxel next to him. And if we have Gui (Santos) next to him, we have a lot of size across the board. If we go that route, we go that route. I’m very comfortable with it.”
Golden State is facing a Los Angeles team that welcomes nine new players, including center Walker Kessler, who is expected to provide immediate help for star guard Luka Doncic. Among those no longer in Los Angeles is 22-time All-Star and four-time NBA MVP LeBron James, who left as a free agent for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Guard Austin Reaves acknowledged that the team is going through an adjustment period after the Lakers struggled to find consistency during the preseason.
“There’s going to be some growing pains, just lack of reps together so far,” Reaves said. “More than likely going to pick up on it sooner than later. So we’ll continue to grow that over the next couple days and be ready for opening night.”
The Lakers are focused on addressing their rebounding after averaging 39.4 rebounds per game during the preseason, ranking second-to-last in the league.
Newcomers Sandro Mamukelashvili and Ziaire Williams offer reasons for optimism. Mamukelashvili showcased his versatility and shooting touch during the preseason, while Williams emerged as a potential defensive force.
Los Angeles coach JJ Redick understands the process of building a cohesive team will continue long after opening night.
“You’re always trying to get better,” Redick said. “And even later in the season, you tweak plays, you tweak the offense and you tweak coverages. It’s constantly evolving.”
