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The injury (and sick) bug has hit the Golden State Warriors hard over the past few days, putting into question the roster head coach Steve Kerr will have available against the Sacramento Kings. Stephen Curry (illness), Jimmy Butler (back), Alex Toohey (knee), and De’Anthony Melton (knee) are all listed on the Warriors’ injury report, with potentially more to come. In fact, according to NBA insider Anthony Slater, Draymond Green and Brandin Podziemski are the latest to have their status in question for the team’s next game. “Steph Curry officially out with an illness for the Warriors’ game in Sacramento tonight,” he wrote in a post on X. “Jimmy Butler (back), Draymond Green (rib) and Brandin Podziemski (wrist) all deemed questionable.” CBS Sports RotoWire also confirmed the news of both Green and Podziemski as being questionable against Sacramento. While Al Horford (toe) has been limited so far, he is now one of the team’s only top contributors without an injury or health concern. New Warriors Injury Update Includes Draymond Green and Brandin Podziemski It hasn’t been easy sledding for the Warriors to begin the season, and the latest round of injury updates is just another sign of the aging stars entering the final years of their careers. For Curry, Kerr announced last night that he would be out, dealing with the flu. Butler has been iffy heading into the Kings game with a lingering back injury, but so far, he hasn’t missed a full game this season. For Green, it’s his first time on the injury report, as the big man is reportedly dealing with a right rib contusion. “Green is questionable for Wednesday’s game against the Kings with a right rib contusion,” CBS Sports staff wrote. “If Green is unable to play, the Warriors could lean heavily on guys like Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody and Buddy Hield.” Green is averaging eight points, 6.1 rebounds, and 6.1 assists for the Warriors this season, in a similar all-around role that he’s played over the past decade. As mentioned, Kuminga, Moody, and Hield are in line for bigger roles on both sides of the ball, all of whom have been solid contributors so far. For the younger Podziemski, it is also his first time on the injury report. In Golden State’s last game, he was moved out of the starting lineup for Quinten Post, but is now reportedly dealing with left wrist soreness, which could cause him to miss his first contest of the season. Who Does Steve Kerr Have Left To Play? While potentially most of the team’s top contributors could miss the matchup against the Kings, Kerr will have Horford available to play after he sat out of their last game. He’s suited up in only five contests with little stats to show, but the chemistry with Curry, Butler and Green has been immediate, and he will likely gain a larger role as the postseason approaches. As previously stated, Kuminga is now in line to lead the team’s offense if Curry, Butler, and Green are out. He had a hot start to the year, and despite simmering off a little bit, is still averaging a career-high 16.4 points per game on 53.4% shooting. Unexpectedly, Kerr chose to start the forward over who had lengthy negotiations for a new contract over the summer, over Horford, but the gamble has paid off decently so far. “He’ll be our starter going forward. He’s been fantastic,” Kerr said of Kuminga last week. “I think he’s ready to take on that role defensively. And what he’s doing offensively, the decision-making, the shot-selection. We’ve seen him being much more focused on getting the ball to Jimmy, getting the ball to Steph, and attacking the rim. He’s really putting a lot of pressure on people.” Kuminga has been a revelation for the aging Warriors team, but if the injury report holds up, Moody, Hield, Post, Gary Payton, and Will Richard will all see an increase in minutes and shots against Sacramento. So far, Moody, Hield, and Post have been Golden State’s strongest backups in their respective roles, and all could potentially start for Kerr. As seen with any team featuring stars in their mid-to-late 30s, injuries are going to be a concern for the Warriors.
