The Golden State Warriors have been fighting the injury bug all season long, but it seems to be a losing battle.
Guard Moses Moody left in overtime of Golden State’s win over the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night with a non-contact injury after jumping to attempt a dunk. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Moody suffered a torn patellar tendon in his left knee, meaning his season is over.
Moody was in the midst of his best season as a pro, averaging 12.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists in his fifth season, all of which are career-highs. The 23-year-old is in the first season of a three-year, $39 million extension he signed back in 2024. He started in 49 of the 60 games he appeared in this season.
The Warriors will likely hold the final play-in spot at the end of the regular season, but it’s all about who will show up for the team when that time comes. With Jimmy Butler already out for the season and Stephen Curry having missed more than 20 games with a lingering injury, the Warriors are in a desperate situation.
De’Anthony Melton and Gary Payton II will likely fill the role of Moody together, both in the lineup and off the bench. The injury further underscores the lack of depth the Warriors have and how much they rely on Curry carrying the load.
The injury to Moody was immediately apparent as his leg gave out when he went up for what should have been an easy dunk. Coach Steve Kerr acknowledged after the game that the injury was serious and concerning. Now, Moody faces an extended rehab process that could force him to miss most or all of next season as well.
Few NBA players have suffered the injury and come back looking like their usual selves. Former All-NBA guard Victor Oladipo suffered the injury in 2023, and he never appeared in another NBA game.
The typical timeline for recovery is 9-12 months, but it could be even longer given the physical requirements for an NBA player. Since Moody is still a young player, his chances of recovering and contributing again at some point are still high.
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