Hamstring Injury Raises Alarms: Did Warriors Make $12M Mistake?
The Golden State Warriors’ biggest offseason addition is quickly turning into one of their biggest concerns.
Veteran center Al Horford exited Friday’s 127–123 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers with right hamstring tightness, according to
“I’m not sure what it is,” Kerr said after the game.
Horford’s absence only intensified the Warriors’ problems inside, as Golden State lost its third straight game, crumbled on the glass, and struggled once again to defend bigger, more athletic frontcourts.
Warriors Get Overpowered Without Horford
Getty Al Horford of the Golden State Warriors is injured again.
Golden State’s downfall was rooted in one glaring issue: second-chance scoring. Portland repeatedly dominated the offensive boards and turned extra opportunities into points. Kerr pointed directly to that imbalance as the decisive factor in the loss.
“Tonight, what really hurt us was the second-chance opportunities,” Kerr said. “They kept getting extra shots, and that’s where the game turned.”
The Blazers collected 12 more offensive rebounds, converting them into a lopsided 28-10 margin in second-chance points. Horford, who was signed to address the interior weakness, played only 18 minutes before leaving with the injury. He finished with seven points, six rebounds and three assists but was minus-5 before exiting in the third quarter.
Horford, 39, joined the Warriors on the full mid-level exception to stabilize the center position, yet he has now missed seven of Golden State’s first 18 games. His hamstring troubles and inconsistent availability have left the Warriors scrambling for solutions in a Western Conference where size and rebounding are essential.
Golden State Experiments With Big Lineups, but Issues Remain
In Horford’s absence, Kerr attempted to patch the interior by increasingly leaning on double-big lineups rotating Quinten Post, Draymond Green and Trayce Jackson-Davis.
Even so, those adjustments did not fix the rebounding gap, and Golden State once again struggled to secure defensive stops after initial contests.
Kerr insisted the Warriors are not broken defensively but admitted their offense lacks rhythm, calling this week’s upcoming practice time “much needed.”
Rumors Intensify: Could Horford’s Injury Push Warriors to a Trade?
As Horford’s status remains uncertain, Golden State’s frontcourt instability continues to spark speculation. Multiple league insiders believe the Warriors may consider a significant trade to stabilize the roster, particularly as forward Jonathan Kuminga becomes trade-eligible on Jan. 15.
A potential match has emerged in Sacramento. According to Allen Stiles of Sactown Sports 1140, a team “down the freeway” — widely interpreted as Golden State — has shown preliminary interest in Kings center Domantas Sabonis, a three-time All-Star currently sidelined three to four weeks with a partially torn meniscus.
Stiles suggested that Sabonis’ contract may complicate negotiations, but his rebounding dominance could solve Golden State’s most pressing weakness. Kuminga, who previously drew Sacramento’s interest, could become a trade centerpiece once eligible.
The Kings reportedly offered Malik Monk and a protected first-round pick for Kuminga in the offseason, a deal the Warriors declined. With Horford hurt again and Golden State slipping to .500, the front office may be forced to revisit options they once ruled out.
Uncertain Path Forward
Horford’s hamstring issue may be minor in isolation, but it highlights larger questions about the Warriors’ roster construction. Golden State’s interior problems have lingered through the season’s opening month, and their most expensive reinforcement has not been consistently available to address them.
For now, Horford is “day-to-day.”
The Warriors’ window to fix the frontcourt may not be.
LeBron James Sends Powerful Tribute to Chris Paul After Retirement News
LeBron James wasted little time reacting to Chris Paul’s retirement decision, posting a heartfelt Instagram story calling his longtime friend the “POINT GOD.” Hours after Paul announced that this season with the Los Angeles Clippers will be his last in the NBA, James shared a photo of Paul biting his Olympic gold medal and wrote, “POINT GOD!!! Been a helluva ride,” along with a saluting emoji.
The post is one of the first high-profile player tributes to Paul, who confirmed on social media that his 21st NBA season will be his final one.
Social media users also went wild with the news.
LeBron James\’ Instagram
LeBron James Calls Chris Paul the ‘Point God’ on Instagram
James’ story, posted from his @kingjames account, features Paul in Team USA gear proudly biting his gold medal, with the bold caption across the top of the image. The phrase “POINT GOD” has followed Paul for years as a nod to his blend of elite playmaking, midrange scoring and clutch decision-making.
By pairing that label with “Been a helluva ride,” James framed Paul’s retirement as the end of an era for one of the best point guards ever. It reads like both a salute to what Paul has already done and a recognition that his next chapter starts after this final Clippers season wraps up.
The image choice also matters. Instead of a jersey from New Orleans, Los Angeles or Phoenix, James highlighted Paul on the international stage, where the two shared the floor for Team USA and won gold together. It’s a reminder that their story stretches beyond the NBA to the global game.
Inside the Friendship Between LeBron James and Chris Paul
James and Paul have been close for nearly two decades, from early battles as young stars to their well-known “banana boat” vacations with Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony. They’ve shared All-Star locker rooms, Olympic runs and deep playoff pushes while largely avoiding facing each other in a Finals series.
Their careers have run in parallel in a lot of ways. James became the face of the league as a do-everything forward, while Paul became the prototypical floor general, controlling pace and running offenses in New Orleans, with the Clippers’ “Lob City” era, in Houston, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Golden State and San Antonio before returning to Los Angeles.
So when Paul finally confirmed that this season will be his last, it felt inevitable that James would be one of the first superstars to publicly acknowledge it. His short, punchy message mirrors how players often talk to each other behind the scenes: few words, but ones that carry a lot of weight.
Chris Paul’s Retirement Cements His Hall of Fame Legacy
Paul’s decision to retire after his 21st season comes with a resume that already screams Hall of Fame. He is a 12-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA selection, nine-time All-Defense honoree, 2006 Rookie of the Year and a member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.
He has orchestrated contenders in multiple eras and cities, helping transform the Clippers into a serious playoff franchise and later guiding the Phoenix Suns to the NBA Finals. Even without a championship ring, he’s widely viewed as one of the best point guards in league history, a sentiment echoed by fans and players in the wake of his announcement.
James putting the “POINT GOD” stamp on Paul’s retirement only reinforces that status. As Paul plays out his final season with the Clippers, tributes like LeBron’s will keep rolling in, but the message from one all-time great to another is already clear: the ride was worthy of legend.
