Warriors injuries lead to potential Kuminga debut

While a rash of injuries from Thursday’s overtime loss to Memphis mean the Golden State Warriors won’t have their #FullSquad for Saturday night. Luckily they will have #StrengthInNumbers, including the likely debut of No. 7 overall pick Jonathan Kuminga.

The invaluable Damion Lee got a shoulder contusion after a collision with Grizzlies center Steven Adams, or “Stevie Adams” if you’re Golden State Warriors broadcaster Bob Fitzgerald. Adams is one of the strongest and beefiest players in the NBA, so it was impressive Lee hung in to play 33 minutes even banged up.

Juan Toscano-Anderson suffered an ankle injury, possibly due to the sheer force of this powerful dunk.

Both Lee and JTA are important pieces of the rotation, so there’s a real opportunity for both Kuminga and the Warriors’ other lottery pick, Moses Moody. Kuminga hasn’t played yet this season after suffering a strained right patella tendon October 6 against the Nuggets. The team designated October 29 as the day he’d be reevaluated, and it appears that the medical evaluation was positive. Moody was assigned to the Santa Cruz Warriors earlier today, but that doesn’t preclude a return to the big team Saturday, perhaps sliding into the Lee role.

In addition to the injuries on the roster, the Warriors’ coaching staff is also banged up, with Kenny Atkinson injuring his leg during a workout. He wasn’t on the bench for the Memphis game, and the team has given no updates on his return. Perhaps this means a better seat for Bruce Fraser?

As for the Warriors’ other promising young lottery pick, James Wiseman, his knee injury will be reevaluated early next week, opening the door his return by mid-to-later November. The team likely wants to bring all their young guys along slowly, but at least for Saturday’s game, it looks like the Warriors’ future is now. Plus, if you’ve got to throw rookies into the fire, it may as well be against the Oklahoma City Thunder.