Golden State Warriors guard De’Anthony Melton will undergo surgery on his left ACL and miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season, the team announced Wednesday. Melton missed two games because of an ACL sprain and underwent further testing before it was determined he would undergo surgery.
Golden State Warriors guard De’Anthony Melton suffered his left ACL injury against the Dallas Mavericks on Nov. 12
The Warriors signed Melton to a one-year, $12.8 million deal on the midlevel exception in free agency. Although Golden State intended for Melton to serve as a two-way player in coach Steve Kerr’s 12-man rotation, he played in only the first three games of the season before a back injury sidelined him for five games.
Melton, 26, returned and played three more games, starting two of them, before he suffered his ACL injury against the Dallas Mavericks on Nov. 12. However, the USC product never left the game and finished with 14 points, four rebounds, and four assists in 26 minutes of action.
Golden State is allowed to sign a 15th player starting on March 1. https://t.co/VLoNitpJLr
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) November 21, 2024
“It’s terrible news. I feel so bad for [Melton],” Kerr said Wednesday. “He’s such a perfect fit for us, and we were excited to have him. He was clearly going to be our starter next to [Stephen Curry].
“He’s disappointed, but he knows this is the right decision. You can’t mess around with a partially torn ACL and think that everything’s going to be fine if he just plays through it. This is the right decision, and we’re all very confident that he’ll be back.”
Coach Steve Kerr said Lindy Waters III will start in Melton’s place
According to Basketball-Reference, in six games (two starts) this season, Melton averaged 10.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.2 steals, and 20.2 minutes per contest while shooting 40.7% from the field, 37.1% from 3-point range, and a career-low 62.5% at the free throw line.
Kerr said the Warriors will start Lindy Waters III in Melton’s place from here on out.
“What he was bringing to this team was great, so we’ll miss that,” Draymond Green said after Wednesday’s 120-97 win over the Atlanta Hawks. “But what we’ll miss more is just his presence around, his attitude, his demeanor every single day. Always smiling, never upset about anything, just always bringing great vibes.
“You hate to see a young guy in a contract year go through this, but I know the imprint he’s already left on this organization. He’ll have an opportunity to come back, and hopefully he’ll decide that’s the right thing for him.”
Golden State is allowed to file a disabled player exception with Melton’s season-ending injury. The exception would be worth $6.4 million, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks. That amount is 50% of Melton’s salary.
However, the Warriors are $534,000 below the first apron and not allowed to exceed the threshold. Golden State is allowed to sign a 15th player starting on March 1.
Melton is an unrestricted free agent in July.
