Golden State Warriors guard De'Anthony Melton had surgery on both of his thumbs this offseason. The procedure was revealed during training camp as the team prepares for a new campaign after a difficult recent run of form, including a 115-110 loss to the LA Clippers on April 13.
Melton is now feeling better and can grip a basketball again. His recovery is a significant development for a Warriors squad that needs his perimeter defense and secondary playmaking. The team's recent form shows just one win in its last five games, a stretch featuring losses to the Clippers, Sacramento Kings, and Los Angeles Lakers.
De'Anthony Melton played through a right thumb injury for an entire year before spraining his left thumb late last season. The left thumb issue arose during a period when Stephen Curry was sidelined, forcing Melton into expanded ball-handling duties. "I usually shoot with my thumb, and I played the whole year with my right messed up," Melton said. He decided to play through the pain for the final month and a half because the team was short-handed.
The guard finally addressed both injuries surgically this summer. He had the procedure on his right thumb in July, followed by the same surgery on his left thumb in August. While he isn't yet at 100 percent, Melton reports a major improvement in how his hands feel.
Melton's health is directly tied to the Warriors' backcourt depth and defensive identity. When right, he's a proven three-point shooter who has hit at least 37.1% from deep in five straight seasons before last year's dip. He also averaged a career-high 12.3 points and 1.6 steals per game in 49 appearances last season.
The Warriors demonstrated their belief in him by re-signing him to a two-year, $12.3 million deal this offseason. That move was highlighted as one of the best under-the-radar signings of the summer. With Curry managing a runner's knee issue, reliable minutes from Melton and Brandin Podziemski become even more important.
The news of Melton's surgery surfaced alongside other preseason concerns, including an indefinite absence for center Kristaps Porzingis. It casts a shadow over a team eager to turn the page on a tough finish to the previous campaign. Their recent results include a 124-118 loss to the Sacramento Kings on April 11 and a 103-119 defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers on April 10.
Their lone recent victory was a narrow 110-105 win over those same Kings on April 8. Before that, they suffered heartbreaking losses to the Houston Rockets (116-117) and Cleveland Cavaliers (111-118). This 1W-4L skid, with three consecutive losses to end it, shows the need for a healthy and productive roster. Getting a full-strength De'Anthony Melton back is a step in that direction.
