The one piece of consistency in the Golden State Warriors’ start to the 2019-20 season has been injuries.
Starting with Klay Thompson to Stephen Curry, and quickly trickling down from top to bottom of the team’s youthful roster.
Luckily for the Warriors, some hopeful reinforcements could be on the way—Friday the team announced center Kevon Looney (nerve condition), guard Jacob Evans (adductor) and rookie Alen Smailagic (ankle) will be reevaluated by team doctors Wednesday.
Even with help coming, the injuries haven’t slowed down, as D’Angelo Russell is the most recent Warrior to hit the injury report. The guard suffered a right-thumb sprain during Friday night’s Boston Celtics game. The one-time Ohio State Buckeye will miss the next two weeks and won’t travel with the team while they’re on road.
Seven of the Warriors’ 16-man roster is now dealing with injuries with Russell down, Steve Kerr will somehow have to craft a lineup with only nine healthy players.
On the positive side, each of the three players set to be reevaluated add intrigue to the young roster. Looney’s only played 10 minutes this season after signing a three-year, $15 million contract this offseason. When he returns, he will immediately provide defensive stability to the frontline that’s struggled with Willie Cauley-Stein, Marquese Chriss and Omari Spellman.
Evans III had high expectations after being drafted in the first round of 2018. The second-year man was expected to handle the ball more as a point guard behind Russell and Curry. Evans has played solid in three games this season after averaging six points and 1.7 rebounds per game in his rookie season out of Cincinnati.
Perhaps the most exciting recovery for the young Warriors is Smailagic, the 39th pick in 2019 draft. Warriors fans haven’t seen much from him, but there’s still a lot of buzz around the Serbian native. The rookie’s debut should provide some enthusiasm for Warriors fans in what looks like a lost season.
While the team is in Dallas during their four-game road swing, timetables should be updated for the three players on the mend. If any of the three can return soon, it’ll provide a ray of light to a roster that’s currently decimated with injuries.
