Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said the team does not have any injury concerns on the roster entering training camp, which begins Saturday.
The Warriors tip off their preseason schedule a bit earlier than other teams by virtue of playing the Washington Wizards on Sept. 30 and Oct. 2 at Saitama Super Arena in Japan. It marks the first visit to the country for both teams.
The injury news is rather encouraging, especially regarding their two incoming rookie players. Patrick Baldwin Jr. (ankle) and Ryan Rollins (foot) missed summer league while dealing with various injuries, but both are ready to go, according to Kerr.
We’re expecting everybody to be ready to go. But we will take precautionary measures for anybody, especially our veteran guys. If there’s anything, especially early in camp, we want to make sure we ramp them up at the right pace. We’ll get a good feel for that the first day or two.
Warriors president Bob Myers said Kerr plans on using a lot of players in the preseason, likely in an effort to keep their veterans fresh. The five preseason games could serve as a great opportunity for Baldwin and Rollins after sitting out summer league.
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Baldwin and Rollins will likely see quite a bit of time in the NBA G League this season. The team has often utilized the Santa Cruz Warriors for younger players out of the rotation to keep them sharp, and that could be the case for Baldwin and Rollins.
The Warriors like their two rookies and believe they can play vital roles down the road. Players have succeeded in the Warriors’ system and it will be worth monitoring how Baldwin and Rollins develop this season.
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