Golden State Warriors to be without Draymond Green in opener - ESPN

SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green will not play in the Warriors' season opener against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night.

Green is recovering from a left lateral ankle sprain suffered during a pickup game three days before training camp began. He began light on-court work a week ago, started 3-on-3 work Friday and was then elevated to 5-on-5 on Sunday.

Green participated in practice and the controlled scrimmage Monday, but the team is not ready to clear him for a game.

«He's doing really well but we don't feel like it would be wise to throw him out with so little scrimmage time on the floor,» coach Steve Kerr said. «We'll reassess as the days go.»

The Warriors play their second game of the season Friday in Sacramento.

This is just the second time in Green's 12 years in the NBA that he'll miss opening night. The last time was in the 2020-21 opener, which he missed because of right foot soreness.

Kerr wouldn't specify who will start in place of Green on Tuesday, though he experimented with several different starting groups through the team's five preseason games. Chris Paul, when on the active roster, was a fixture in the starting lineup during the preseason.

Though Kerr is optimistic the Warriors have enough talent to stay afloat during Green's absence, the coach acknowledges it will hold the team back to a degree.

«I have a clear vision of our team this year and it will not be on display tomorrow night because we are not where we need to be,» Kerr said. «We're going to be way better in a month or two, but that doesn't mean we can't get off to a good start… play well over the next couple of weeks as we're fitting Draymond back in.»