Golden State Warriors guard De’Anthony Melton will undergo season-ending knee surgery.
On Wednesday, the team confirmed that Melton is set to have a procedure for a sprained left anterior cruciate ligament, which Coach Steve Kerr indicated is partially torn. Melton had missed the last two games and had been contemplating this decision in recent days, according to Kerr.
Following medical evaluations, the Warriors determined that surgery is the most viable option. Melton, who has also faced challenges with a lower back issue, was expected to be a key backcourt starter alongside Stephen Curry, especially after Klay Thompson’s trade to the Dallas Mavericks.
“This is obviously unfortunate news; I feel for De’Anthony,” Kerr shared. “He fits our system perfectly, and we were eager to see how he would perform as our starting guard next to Steph. The silver lining is that he’s young, and these surgeries are fairly routine now, so he should be able to recover and return to form. However, it’s tough for both him and the team.”
In his brief time on the court this season, Melton played six games, starting in two, and averaged 10.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in roughly 20.2 minutes per game. He had already missed five games earlier due to a strained lower back.
With Melton sidelined, Lindy Waters III will step into a starting role. Waters, known for his defensive skills as well as his scoring ability, was part of the starting lineup for Wednesday’s matchup against the Atlanta Hawks.
The Warriors plan to explore various lineup combinations moving forward to find the best fit.
“Luckily, we have a deep roster, and players are prepared to step up,” Kerr mentioned, adding that he has been discussing Melton’s career and upcoming free agency with him. “We’ve had many conversations behind the scenes. While he is understandably disappointed, he recognizes that this decision is for the best. He spent the last few days reflecting on it and concluded that playing through a partially torn ACL is not the right path.”
