The Golden State Warriors won their first game of the season against the Denver Nuggets on Monday, but a new ESPN article by Warriors reporter Anthony Slater brought their issues front and center. Slater detailed the rough transition the Warriors have faced since center Kristaps Porzingis's injury, but the story also focused on how the team viewed last year's campaign.
“The Warriors feel part of the reason for their 37-45 failure a season ago was a woe-is-me attitude about the schedule and injury misfortune, team sources said, so they have taken a purposeful no-excuse approach this regular season,” Slater wrote.
The Warriors' rejection of that mindset appears in the opening of Slater's article, where he notes that Draymond Green was listed as the Warriors' starting center in their Friday loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, 111-108. Instead of embracing the “whoa is me” attitude, Green stepped up.
“We got what we got,” Green said postgame on Friday. “So we got to make it do what it do.”
But the Warriors still find themselves at a crossroads over Porzingis' injury misfortune and options that could free up the $20 million he is set to receive after signing a two-year, $40 million extension. According to Slater, they're even considering a nuclear option given the circumstances.
Article Continues Below“Porzingis' unwillingness to be present at the Warriors' facility could be deemed a failure to render his services — a reality that has been raised internally, sources said — and could be used in an attempt to void his entire contract. But that would present its own complications, unless Porzingis expressed an intention to retire and willingly gave all the money back.”
Nevertheless, the Warriors are encouraged by rookie Yaxel Lendeborg's play and the productivity of their current starting lineup. They look to continue their momentum as they face an 8th Minnesota Timberwolves team that will be without Anthony Edwards for a prolonged period after Edwards is set to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.