Warriors Finally Set Clear Return Date for De’Anthony Melton

The Golden State Warriors finally offered clarity on De’Anthony Melton’s long-awaited season debut, providing the most detailed update yet on the veteran guard’s recovery from a torn left ACL.

Warriors Announce Melton Could Return on Next Week’s Road Trip

In a statement released Saturday, the Warriors confirmed that Melton has ramped up to full practices and competitive scrimmages, signaling that his return is imminent.

“Warriors guard De’Anthony Melton, who underwent surgery to repair a torn left ACL on December 4, 2024, continues to make good progress with his rehabilitation,” the team announced. “He has fully participated in practice in recent days and continues to scrimmage in various settings. He will not play the remainder of this current homestand, but it is expected that he could be activated at some point during the team’s upcoming three-game road trip next week.”

Golden State hosts the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday before heading East for a challenging three-game stretch against the Philadelphia 76ers (Dec. 4), Cleveland Cavaliers (Dec. 6) and Chicago Bulls

(Dec. 7). Melton is expected to return during one of those matchups.

The update ends months of uncertainty surrounding a key offseason addition the Warriors had hoped to build their backcourt around.

Melton’s Return Comes as Warriors Lose Stephen Curry to Injury

GettyStephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors is out for a week or more.

The news arrives at a critical moment for Golden State, which lost

Stephen Curry to a right quad contusion during Wednesday’s defeat to the Houston Rockets. ESPN’s Anthony Slater and Shams Charania reported that Curry is expected to miss “around a week or a little more,” further complicating a season already dinged by injuries.

The Warriors entered Saturday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans having dropped four of their past five contests, sliding back toward .500 as inconsistency and defensive lapses continue to characterize their early-season struggles.

Getting Melton back provides an infusion of defense, toughness and stability — all areas Golden State has lacked in the opening month.

Melton Was a Key Starter Before His ACL Tear

Melton appeared in only six games last season before suffering the ACL tear that wiped out his debut year with the Warriors. In those limited appearances, he averaged 10.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals while shooting efficiently and defending at a high clip.

Golden State envisioned the 27-year-old guard as a perfect complement to Curry: a tough on-ball defender, active playmaker and reliable shooter who could guard the league’s elite guards while allowing Curry to carry less defensive burden.

The early returns reflected that vision. Melton started twice next to Curry, and the Warriors raced to a 12-2 start before his injury derailed their rotation and rhythm.

Warriors Backcourt Struggled Without Melton, Leading to Midseason Shake-Ups

Without Melton to start the season, Golden State cycled through multiple options in search of backcourt stability — Brandin Podziemski, Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody and rookie Will Richard

— but none fully replicated Melton’s blend of defense, toughness and efficient scoring.

The Warriors slid to 11th in the West last season before aggressively reshaping the roster, including the blockbuster addition of

Jimmy Butler. Melton briefly became caught in a series of trade sequences involving Dennis Schröder and the Brooklyn Nets, though the Warriors ultimately held onto him.

Melton later said he held no bitterness about the trade discussions.

“Business is business. I probably would’ve traded myself, too,” Melton said. “At my contract, you needed someone who could come in, play and help the team… I felt no type of way and I understood.”

Melton Expected to Reclaim Starting Role Next to Curry

NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole projected in September that Melton would reclaim his starting spot as soon as he was fully cleared.

“You want someone next to Steph who’s a two-way player,” Poole said on the Dubs Talk podcast. “Melton is a good on-ball defender with a great feel for team defense. That lets Steph be Steph.”

Head coach Steve Kerr has long prioritized defense and physicality in the backcourt — two areas where Melton excels. With Curry sidelined and Golden State entering a difficult road stretch, his return becomes even more consequential.

For a Warriors team battling injuries, inconsistency and growing urgency, Melton’s comeback could not be better timed.

Browns Called Out for ‘Odd’ Shedeur Sanders Situation After Latest News

The Cleveland Browns

are open to giving Shedeur Sanders more opportunities as their starting quarterback, though one prominent insider has pointed out the odd behavior the team has displayed around its rookie passer.

Sanders will draw his second start in Week 13 against the San Francisco 49ers. He won his starting debut last week, helping the Browns down the Las Vegas Raiders

24-10. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Browns will give Sanders an extended look as their starter, contingent on results.

“Sanders now has the opportunity not only to start again Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers but also to play well enough to continue earning starts for the rest of this season,” Schefter said. “This is the opportunity in front of Sanders. The Browns are open to playing him now, but they also are not rushing to any judgments. For now, they know he is their quarterback and he has another chance to gain more trust, silence more critics and prove he can be the Browns’ answer at quarterback.”

Florio: Browns Treatment of Shedeur Sanders ‘Just Odd’

It’s a straightforward directive for Sanders: play well and you’ll keep playing. But Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk argued that Cleveland’s overall handling of their rookie quarterback has felt off from the moment they drafted him at No. 144.

Florio noted that Sanders should represent a fresh source of hope for the franchise, particularly as the Browns continue to navigate the fallout from the Deshaun Watson trade and his $230 million contract

, which still weighs heavily on the organization.

“While it’s kooky to say Sanders is being sabotaged, it’s not a stretch to say that something seems off. And when something seems off, that’s when imaginations run wild,”

Florio said. “Whatever the reason for the Browns’ apparent attitude toward Sanders, it’s just odd. At a time when they’re still dealing with the ramifications of the single worst transaction of the salary cap era (if not ever), the Browns should allow themselves to view the glass as potentially eventually half full — not inevitably empty.”

Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Clears Up Kevin Stefanski Relationship

Sanders shut down a question this week about the idea of him being “sabotaged” by Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski. He also provided some insight into their relationship.

“Definitely like a coach,” Sanders said. “He tells me what I need to do on and off the field. We’ve definitely grown. Our relationship and everything has grown, so I’m just thankful to be here.”

The latest move drawing criticism for Stefanski came after Sunday’s win, when he opted not to give Shedeur Sanders the game ball following his victorious starting debut. Instead, the honor went to Myles Garrett, who earned it with three sacks while breaking his own franchise single-season record.

“Every game, you go into it trying to just highlight guys,” Stefanski said. “Myles [Garrett] got a game ball. I thought he was probably pretty worthy. But you’re just trying to constantly recognize your guys.

“Obviously, a rookie starting his first game on the road, getting a win is huge. So you acknowledge all that with your team.”

Sanders’ next test comes on Sunday against the 49ers. The Browns are 6.5-point underdogs in the matchup.

Sport