Golden State receives encouraging news on the guard's rehab progress.
The Golden State Warriors got some much-needed good news about De'Anthony Melton's recovery from a torn ACL, and it could provide a boost to a team that's been up and down through the first month of the season.
The 27-year-old guard has been working his way back from knee surgery and is getting closer to making his season debut.
Latest on Melton's Recovery
"Warriors announce that De'Anthony Melton will continue to increase activity in team practices and scrimmages," Anthony Slater of ESPN reported. "Re-evaluated again in 10 days. I've heard some time in December has been a floating target for return from ACL rehab."
Melton hasn't played since tearing his ACL during the 2024-25 season while with the Warriors, and he had surgery on December 4 of last year, which means he's now about 11 and a half months into his recovery.
He's been ramping up his workouts with the Santa Cruz Warriors, Golden State's G-League team, and taking part in scrimmages to test out his knee and get back into game shape.
Warriors' Season So Far
The Warriors currently sit at 9-8 after a tough 110-96 loss to the Miami Heat on November 19, and they've been dealing with their share of struggles this season.
Stephen Curry has been carrying the load as usual, but the team has had trouble finding consistency on both ends of the floor.
Golden State started the year strong but has hit some rough patches along the way, and getting a healthy Melton back in the rotation could help them get back on track.
The Warriors are looking for answers as they try to stay competitive in a tough Western Conference, and adding another quality rotation player would give head coach Steve Kerr more options to work with.
How Melton Can Help
When Melton returns, he'll bring something the Warriors really need, which is perimeter defense and versatility in the backcourt.
During his brief six-game stint with Golden State last season before the injury, Melton averaged 10.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in about 20 minutes per game, and he showed he could fit in well alongside Curry and the rest of the starting lineup.
What makes Melton valuable is that he can guard multiple positions, knock down the open three-pointer, and handle the ball when needed.
Jimmy Butler has been solid for the Warriors this season with 20.1 points per game, but the team could use more depth in the backcourt, especially with the way the season has gone so far.
Melton's three-and-D skill set is exactly what modern NBA teams need, and his ability to take pressure off Curry on defense while still contributing on offense makes him a perfect fit for what the Warriors are trying to do.
If he can get back to the level he was playing at before the injury, it would give Golden State a legitimate eighth or ninth man who can play important minutes down the stretch.
The Warriors will be cautious with Melton's return and won't rush him back, but having a target date of sometime in December gives the team and fans something to look forward to as they navigate a challenging season.