Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said veteran forward De’Anthony Melton is still “not very close” to playing, nearly one year after the 27-year-old suffered a torn left ACL.
Kerr, speaking Tuesday on 95.7 The Game’s “Willard & Dibs,” noted that Melton has begun limited scrimmaging during the team’s six-game road trip but needs extensive on-court work before making his 2025-26 debut.
Injury and Rehab Timeline
Melton tore the ACL in his left knee on Nov. 12, 2024, after appearing in just six games last season. In those contests, he averaged 10.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists while shooting 40.7% from the field and 37.1% from three-point range.
“He missed all of last year pretty much,” Kerr said. “He needs to really do a lot of on-court scrimmaging and rhythm work. The good news is he’s getting healthier and stronger every day, and he’s definitely going to play a part of the season coming up. We just don’t have an exact date yet.”
Potential December Return
In early October, Kerr told ESPN’s Tim Bontemps he hoped Melton would be back “in the next couple months,” suggesting a target of December at the earliest. The former second-round pick has logged only 14 regular-season and playoff appearances since January 2024 because of back and knee injuries.
Contract and Team Status
Golden State sent Melton to the Brooklyn Nets in December 2024 but re-signed him over the summer on a two-year, $6.5 million deal that includes a second-year player option and a trade restriction.
The Warriors are 9-6 and seventh in the Western Conference. Their road trip continues Tuesday night in Orlando.
Source: Basketball Insiders
