Warriors' Moses Moody Sets Timetable for Return From Injury

To start 2026-2027, the Golden State Warriors will be without guard Moses Moody due to a torn left patellar tendon he suffered last season. Moody was one of the most productive players for Golden State offensively, as he averaged 12.1 points per game last season. 

Recently, Moody spoke about his road to getting back to playing shape and recovering from the injury, and he said everything is on track for a midseason return. He also mentioned he has been able to do light on-court activities such as shooting jump shots. 

Moses Moody suffered his injury in March, and six months have passed, meaning a return anytime between December and March 2027 is the likely outcome. 

As far as what this means for Golden State, they will need some young players to step up in place of Moody to ensure this team can still be competitive. Not only is Moses Moody out for a chunk of the season, but small forward Jimmy Butler is still rehabbing from a season-ending injury of his own, as he tore his ACL in January. 

Some players who are projected to see more time on the court this season are guard Brandin Podziemski and forward Gui Santos. These are two players who have experience playing regular minutes for the Warriors off the bench, but now they have a chance to prove their worth as potential starters. 

Podziemski will be a player the Warriors' front office will keep a close eye on because of his contract situation with the franchise. He is eligible for a rookie extension, but both sides have yet to come to an agreement on that new deal. 

Statistically, he has gotten better each season since he's been in the NBA, and with an expanded role in this year's rotation, there's a chance he could have the breakout season many have been waiting for. 

Another player who could step into a starting role sooner than expected is rookie forward Yaxel Lendeborg from Michigan. Lendeborg was the 11th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, and since he's an older prospect, the Warriors may feel that he's ready to take on a starting role sooner than expected. 

The loss of Moses Moody definitely hurts Golden State, but if the remaining supporting cast can help Stephen Curry just enough, they can still be competitive. Once he can come back, that will give the Warriors a boost and it could change the outlook for their season.