We now have a timeline of Chris Paul's latest setbacks.
Paul fractured his left hand this week and the surgery was successful. ESPN reported on Sunday. As is customary for similar injuries, he will likely be out for four to six weeks.
Paul was injured in the Warriors' win over the Detroit Pistons on Friday night, and his schedule could keep him out until the All-Star break in mid-February. The game itself will be held on February 18th in Indiana.
The 6-foot point guard, acquired by the Warriors during the offseason as part of a blockbuster trade involving Jordan Poole among others, is currently in his 19th season and will turn 39 in May.
The 12-time All-Star has had 11 hand surgeries during his career, five of them on his left hand.
Paul averaged 8.9 points, 7.2 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game as a Warrior this season, appearing in 32 games and starting 11.
The Warriors will miss Paul's point guard play in what has been a challenging season for the storied franchise, as he played a career-low 27.6 minutes per game.
Paul's injury will further enable the rise of rookie guard Brandin Podzemski, whom the Warriors selected 19th overall in the 2023 NBA Draft out of Santa Clara.
Podzemski joined the Warriors' rotation after sitting on the bench for the first three games of the season.
Podzemski is averaging 11.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.4 steals per game over the last 17 games, while playing 28.8 minutes per night.
The 6-foot-5 left-hander is shooting nearly 50 percent from the field and 45.5 percent from beyond the arc in this stretch.
As Podzemski is named to an increased role, suspended Warrior Draymond Green rejoins the team and Paul's hand ailment also brings his return closer. It seems so.
Green, who has not played in an NBA game since being suspended indefinitely for punching Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic, recently returned but missed the team's final 12 games. ing.
The Warriors are currently in 10th place in the Western Conference with a record of 17 wins and 18 losses and will be entering the play-in tournament.
