The Golden State Warriors’ season has started with significant challenges. Superstar Stephen Curry has been sidelined in several games due to an illness that caused him to sniffling during post-game interviews, while Jimmy Butler has had to exit games early because of lower back soreness, leaving the team without the consistent presence of its veteran leaders. Throughout this period, Draymond Green has made an effort to fill the leadership gap, but his own status is now uncertain.

Before tonight’s game between the Warriors and the Oklahoma City Thunder, head coach Steve Kerr revealed that “there’s a chance” that Draymond might miss the team’s next game in San Antonio on the second night of a back-to-back, also adding that the veteran forward is “banged up.”

Kerr explained that this is the reason the Warriors will be missing veteran center Al Horford tonight, as they want at least one of their two big men to be available for each game. It’s a form of rest management that signals just how carefully Golden State is trying to preserve its aging core through the regular season.

Green has had to sit out a game earlier this season due to a right rib contusion, and the hope is that he can stay healthy to anchor the defense while the team’s young players can spark some life into the offense, especially in games without Curry and/or Butler. Tonight will mark Curry’s return from the flu that had him sidelined for the past three games, and Butler is set to play as well, despite a potential lingering case of back soreness.

With Al Horford having to miss 2 of the previous four matchups, Green’s minutes and responsibilities only added to his already daunting task of guarding the front-court of opposing teams. At 35 years old, with an average of 28.2 minutes in the last four games while guarding 7-footers, this has only added to the nagging injuries that compound over time.

Not to be forgotten, the Warriors’ missing Curry prompted Green to also take a notable leap in his offensive contributions, as evidenced by his 6-for-12 performance against the Nuggets, which added 17 points for the team while guarding Nikola Jokic- all while playing through his rib injury.

Steve Kerr now has a balancing act in front of him. Push too hard, and the team could break down physically. Pull too far back, and they lose any sense of rhythm. The last game all three of them played together was against the Suns on November 4th, which Butler had to leave due to back soreness flaring up.

Tonight’s game also marks the beginning of a six-game road trip for a team already facing fatigue issues due to its demanding schedule, with 15 games in 26 days to start the season. Now, without their emotional leader set to miss tomorrow’s game, Golden State will have to show that they’re capable of holding the line against the defending champions.

Warriors Face Defining Six-Game Road Trip After Draymond’s Wake-Up Call

The Warriors’ win over the lowly Pacers on Sunday came as a relief, but what lies ahead will be a revealing stretch. The upcoming road trip, starting with tonight’s game in Oklahoma City, shapes up to be one of their first measuring sticks, a  chance to see the progress made by the players since the start of the season.

Draymond Green’s fiery message to the team after their loss to the Nuggets on November 7th still remains fresh, with Al Horford admitting, “Draymond challenged us to be better. Come out with more intensity, better energy… it’s a good start, but it has to be constant.”

Green and Jimmy Butler have also spoken about the Warriors’ issues being rooted in effort, not talent. Butler, who has taken on a leadership role alongside Green, said that the team “responded incredibly well,” but made it clear that the team had to improve by “taking the challenge on the defensive side of the floor” and “being the most connected group.”

For Steve Kerr, the road trip represents both risk and opportunity. The Warriors currently sit at a 6-5 record, showing inconsistency, but Kerr remains confident that the team can still improve. “We haven’t played real well… but I’m very confident in this team,” he said. “We don’t really have our identity yet.” Now, with the roster finally healthy, if only for one game, this stretch either steadies the season or exposes how far they still are from finding themselves.