Golden State Warriors guard De’Anthony Melton will undergo season-ending surgery on his knee, the team announced Wednesday.
Melton is set to have a procedure on a partially torn left anterior cruciate ligament, which has been causing him significant discomfort. Head coach Steve Kerr revealed that Melton, who has missed the last two games, had been contemplating the situation in recent days. Following medical assessments, the Warriors determined that surgery was the best course of action.
“This is obviously terrible news. I feel so bad for De’Anthony; he’s such a perfect fit for us,” Kerr said. “We were really excited to have him, and he was clearly going to be our starter next to Steph Curry. The good news is that he’s young and the surgery is pretty routine, so he should be able to come back and resume his career well. But I feel awful for him and for us, too.”
In his brief stint with the Warriors, Melton played six games, starting twice, and averaged 10.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 20.2 minutes per game. He also missed five games earlier this season due to a strained lower back.
In Melton’s absence, Lindy Waters III will step into the starting role. Waters, known for his defensive skills as well as his scoring ability, was part of the starting lineup for Wednesday’s home game against the Atlanta Hawks.
Kerr noted that the team will explore various lineup combinations moving forward. “Fortunately, we have a deep team, and guys will be ready to step up,” he said. Kerr also mentioned ongoing conversations with Melton regarding his career and upcoming free agency, emphasizing that Melton understands the necessity of the decision. “He’s disappointed but knows this is the right choice. He spent the last few days thinking it through and recognized that we can’t risk a partially torn ACL by trying to play through it.”
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