SAN FRANCISCO — Draymond Green is expected to be re-evaluated in two weeks with a left ankle sprain, the team announced Monday, putting in jeopardy his participation in Opening Night game against the Phoenix Suns on Oct. 24.
Green, 33, sustained a Grade 2 sprain during a pickup game earlier last week when he landed awkwardly on Jonathan Kuminga's foot.
Green is expected to sit out for the majority of Warriors camp, which includes four preseason games. Their first is Oct. 7 against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Warriors could use a healthy Green at the start of the regular season as they play nine of their first 11 games on the road. They went a dismal 11-30 on the road last season.
The Warriors signed him to a four-year, $100 million extension when free agency opened on June 30. He played 73 games last season, averaging 31.5 minutes per game with 6.8 assists, 7.2 rebounds and 8.5 points.
Green will need to practice and ramp up after his injury heals, which means he could be out or coming off the bench on Opening Night. That opens up an opportunity for Jonathan Kuminga to earn minutes in his place with the starters — which could include a combination of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Chris Paul, Andrew Wiggins and Kevon Looney.
Paul may be the necessary choice to start over any games Green misses. The point guard hasn't come off the bench in a single game throughout his 18-year career and would fill in for Green as a playmaker to get Curry off ball.
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