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Russell Westbrook isn’t interested in revisiting his Los Angeles Lakers days — at least not with a Sharpie in hand.

At the Kings’ preseason matchup against the Lakers, Westbrook greeted a line of young fans holding jerseys from all the teams he played with across his NBA career. He signed two Oklahoma City Thunder jerseys, skipped over two Lakers ones, and then autographed a Houston Rockets jersey.

“I donâ€t know about signing that jersey,†Westbrook said. “I’ll sign something else for you, though.”

The clip surfaced shortly after Westbrook agreed to a one-year, $3.6 million free-agent deal with the Kings.

Westbrookâ€s journey to Sacramento has been a long and winding one. When he joined the Lakers in 2021, expectations were sky-high, but the fit quickly soured. Westbrookâ€s ball-dominant style clashed withLeBron Jamesand Anthony Davis, and his shooting inconsistencies became a lightning rod for criticism throughout the 2021-22 NBA season.

By February 2023, the Lakers dealt Westbrook to the Utah Jazz in a three-team trade — ending his turbulent stint in purple and gold. Utah bought out his contract within days, clearing the way for him to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers.

In the summer of 2024, the Clippers traded Westbrook to Utah once again in a sign-and-trade, and he promptly was waived. He then signed with the Denver Nuggets, where he continued to add to his historic résumé — becoming the first player in NBA history to record 200 career triple-doubles and later surpassing 26,000 career points.

Now 36, Westbrook joins Sacramento as one of the NBAâ€s most experienced and accomplished guards — and, judging by his reaction to those Lakers jerseys, a man ready to fully embrace his next chapter.

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The New York Yankees announced Sunday that former top prospect Jesús Montero has died at the age of 35 years old.

“The Yankees are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Jesús Montero,†read a post on the teamâ€s official X account. “We send our sincerest condolences to his family & loved ones.â€

The Yankees are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Jesús Montero. We send our sincerest condolences to his family & loved ones. pic.twitter.com/jlfUpPmgMt

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 19, 2025

The former catcher’s motorcycle reportedly crashed into a truck on Oct. 4 and he had been hospitalized ever since in critical condition. He was unable to recover from multiple injuries, authorities said.

“We join the baseball community in mourning the passing of former Major League player Jesús Montero,” Major League Baseball posted on social media Sunday.

We join the baseball community in mourning the passing of former Major League player Jesús Montero.

As a Minor League prospect, Montero appeared in the All-Star Futures game twice before debuting for the New York Yankees in September 2011. He posted a .996 OPS with 4 home runs… pic.twitter.com/AO6Yrxb5mo

— MLB (@MLB) October 19, 2025

The Venezuela native, a power-hitting catcher in the minors, was ranked one of the sportâ€s top-10 prospects by Baseball America for three consecutive years from 2010 to 2012.

Montero was the No. 1 prospect in the Yankees†organization when he made his major-league debut in 2011 at 21-years-old. He played in 18 games for the Yankees that season, hitting .328 with four homers and 12 RBIs.

The following January, Montero was traded to the Seattle Mariners in a package for starting pitcher Michael Pineda. In his first season with the Mariners, he hit .260 with 15 home runs and 62 RBIs in 135 games. Over the next three seasons, he played in a combined 73 games, making his final MLB appearance in 2015.

He was waived by the Mariners the following offseason and spent stints in the minor league systems of the Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles.

In the Venezuelan Winter League, he played six seasons with the Navegantes del Magallanes, Cardenales de Lara, and Ãguilas del Zulia. He retired at age 31 after the 2020-2021 season.

“Venezuelan baseball sadly bids farewell to Jesús Montero … leaving behind a legacy of effort and passion for the game,†the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League said in a statement posted Sunday on X. “Today, baseball mourns his passing. But it also remembers him with gratitude: for every home run that thrilled the fans, for every day in which he proudly defended his countryâ€s colors, and for every young person who saw in him an example that dreams can be achieved.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report

CNBCâ€s Michael Ozanian breaks down the 2025 MLB team valuations from the most valuable New York Yankees to the bottom of the barrel Miami Marlins.

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The 2025-26 NBA season will be new Kings guard Russell Westbrookâ€s first campaign in Sacramento and the starâ€s 18th overall in the league.

So, given that the Kings are Westbrookâ€s seventh different team and “The Brodie†is 36 years old, itâ€s fair to wonder if the coming season will be his last.

Westbrook was asked if thatâ€d be the case on Sunday at Kings practice, and he bluntly shut it down.

“Yeah, right,†the former NBA MVP told reporters when asked if heâ€d retire upon the seasonâ€s end.

The idea of calling it quits isnâ€t in Westbrookâ€s DNA.

Instead, the 6-foot-4 guard, with career averages of 21.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 8.0 assists, intends to keep playing for the foreseeable future.

Westbrook followed his frank response by sharing what keeps him going.

“Family,†he said. “My family. My supporters. The ability to be grateful and blessed to be able to wake up and have limbs and things that work, and be able to use them. Using this platform to build other parts of my life and business.

“You know, just the overall fun I have while playing and enjoying the game; I think itâ€s something I never ever take for granted, and Iâ€m thankful to be able to do that again.â€

The last few seasons have been rough for Westbrook.

But the Kings are betting on the veteran to remain a productive player after he averaged 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists over a promising 75 games a season ago.

And it appears Westbrook is betting on the Kings to help him have fun, as he avoids talk of retirement.

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SAN FRANCISCO – Moses Moody officially is out for the Warriors†regular season opener Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Lakers while still rehabbing a strained calf, coach Steve Kerr announced Sunday.Â

Moody did not practice Sunday. He went through individual work on the court and in the weight room, but has not scrimmaged since missing the Warriors†final three preseason games.

Jimmy Butler and Jonathan Kuminga, both coming back from ankle issues, scrimmaged Sunday and everything went well for them physically. The two forwards will be listed as questionable for the season opener with the expectation being theyâ€ll be able to play.Â

Losing Moody for at least the first game of the season already throws a wrench in Kerrâ€s plans for his starting lineup and how heâ€ll use different combinations. Moody started both preseason games he played in and averaged 14.5 points on 52.4 percent shooting and was 7 of 12 (58.3 percent) on 3-pointers. The Jimmy Butler trade last season cemented Moody into a role of being a go-to on-ball defender who can hit open threes.Â

Moodyâ€s versatility as someone who can play up as a forward in smaller lineups or down as a shooting guard in bigger lineups proved key down the stretch last season. And it also has Kerr trying to fill a missing piece.

“I honestly have not decided yet whoâ€s going to start on Tuesday,†Kerr said.

Which prompted the question: Do you know who will start on Tuesday?

Sprinkling in some sarcasm, Kerr rattled off the obvious choices of Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Butler, assuming heâ€s healthy enough. He then made it clear who at least the fourth person will be.Â

“With Moses out, thatâ€s kind of the question,†Kerr said. “[Brandin Podziemski] will be out there. BP will be out there.â€

Kerr mentioned veteran center Al Horford as an option, as well as Kuminga, but he could go a number of ways. The Warriors donâ€t want to play Horford, 39 years old, more than 20 to 25 minutes per game, making it tricky to decide if heâ€s better served as a starter or coming off the bench. If he starts and the Warriors want to close games, that means long lulls on the bench in between.Â

“What we have to think about is, what does that do to the rotation and what does that mean coming off the bench,†Kerr said. “Honestly, we have not decided yet and weâ€ve got to talk to guys as well.â€

The player who will be most affected by the fifth spot is Green. Starting Horford would slot Green into his more natural position of power forward. But if Kerr opts to go smaller and start Kuminga, Green would continue rising above as a small-ball center.

None of this is new to Green, who joked that if he has to play the five “Iâ€m going to ask for a trade.†The 6-foot-6 defensive genius has probably played more center than Kerr would have liked over the years, but heâ€s also a main piece of the modern NBAâ€s revolution. The deciding factor going into Greenâ€s 14th season is the same that itâ€s always been for someone so decorated.

Whatâ€s best for the team? What is going to help the Warriors win? And what will put them on the path to contending for another championship?

“Iâ€ve teetered with it my whole career. Sometimes at the five, sometimes at the four,†Green said. “I think you all know me. Whatever helps this team, whatever puts us in the best position to win, thatâ€s what Iâ€m going to do. I train to prepare myself for whateverâ€s to come. Playing the five isnâ€t always about the size, itâ€s about the size of the heart and I think my heart is as big – if not bigger – than anyoneâ€s in the league. I always trust in that.

“I think my brain helps me get by quite a bit. I can outthink some guys. I just use the tools that I have. But Iâ€m not putting no huge emphasis on whether I play the four or the five. In life we all have ideally what we would like. I have ideally what I think it would look like. But I also know that I play a team sport and in playing a team sport, what may be best for you personally or what you think is best, if thatâ€s not best for the team then youâ€re being selfish. And I take pride in not being selfish.

“So whatever that looks like, wherever I can help … if thatâ€s like, ‘Oh man, you sliding to the five is going to help this lineup, thatâ€s going to help this rotation,†then great. If itâ€s sliding to the four, great. Ultimately, Steve proved in Year 1 that he knows how to do these things, so Iâ€m not going to be the idiot to sit here and question him. Iâ€ll move on in my life and get ready for whateverâ€s ahead.â€

Lakers head coach JJ Redick is expected to use Gabe Vincent, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and Deandre Ayton as his starting five against the Warriors. LeBron James remains out because of sciatica.

Who Kerr slots in next to Curry, Podziemski, Butler and Green is to be determined, and always, Draymond is ready for however the cards are shuffled.

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An epic facial expression, a bit of trolling with a reporter in a back-and-forth exchange and laughter filled the Kings’ practice facility on Sunday morning.

Russell Westbrook has arrived.

“It feels great, truly,” Westbrook said when asked how it feels to be a member of the Kings. “I’m blessed to be able to have an opportunity to play and enjoy a place that wanted me to come here. So I’m grateful for that.”

Westbrook signed a one-year contract with Sacramento after a lengthy unrestricted free agency kept him teamless for roughly four months.

But alas, he found his new home.

“I don’t know how it all came together so quickly, but obviously I have a lot of friends and guys I’ve played with on this team before,” Westbrook said. “Not just that, but also an organization that [my agent] had been in contact with, trying to figure out ways to make it happen. With salary cap and all these different rules that I’ve come to learn, things you can and can’t do, and things just kind of meshed together that way. And I’m here now.”

Westbrook, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, widely is regarded as one of the most fiery players and personalities in the league.

You love him … or you don’t. Regardless, Westbrook won’t ever change who he is.

Now entering Year 18, symbolized by the No. 18 he’ll wear with the Kings, Westbrook is used to the criticism.

“To be honest, it’s really been like this my whole career,” he said. “It’s nothing new, unfortunately. I’m grateful and blessed for the doubt, the ‘if I can and will play.’ I know what I’m capable of when given the opportunity. So when the season starts, I’m going to do what I’ve always done and compete. There’s going to be people who love it. There’s going to be people who hate it. That’s life for me. I didn’t make it 18 years on accident.

“I’m grateful. The chip has always been on my shoulder, and it won’t go nowhere until I’m done playing.”

But Westbrook isn’t just motivated by the chip on his shoulder, as the external doubt and criticism of the Kings’ roster as a whole also lights a fire under him.

“The doubt that everybody has against us,” Westbrook said when asked what intrigues him about the team.

The triple-double king spent the last season with the Denver Nuggets, where in 75 games (36 starts), he averaged 13.3 points on 44.9 percent shooting from the field, with 4.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists 1.4 steals in 27.9 minutes.

He remains in great shape among point guards across the league, while doing the things coach Doug Christie is looking for, such as rebounding, play-making, providing high energy and getting after it defensively.

His high momentum and contagious energy are fitting for the arena he’ll now call home.

Westbrook can’t wait to finally be on the home side of the “loud” Golden 1 Center crowd after fans have “talked a lot of mess to me when I was here” as an opponent over the course of his career.

“Very excited. I think fans are one of the reasons why I love to play the game,” he said. “It’s one of the reasons why I continue to go out and give everything I have. Being on the road side, I know how great this fanbase can be. I’m grateful and excited to be able to get out there and have them on my side and feed off their energy.

“And yes, ultimately light the beam.”

Westbrook is a nine-time NBA All-Star, nine-time All-NBA member, former league MVP, two-time scoring champion and likely a future Hall of Famer.

Nearly two decades into this, accolades have become less and less important to him as much as being healthy and able to even step foot onto the hardwood. While he acknowledged winning a championship would be a great addition to his already illustrious NBA resume, he’s more focused on having a lasting impact on the things he does and the people he comes across.

That includes on and off the basketball court.

“I think since I’ve been in this league, leadership is not just something that you guys see on the floor,” he said. “My job, and I think one of my traits as a leader, is to be able to learn about guys’ journeys off the floor, how they got to this point, what inspires them, what pushes them. Being able to do that allows me to be a better teammate [and] a better brother to my teammates.

“To me, that’s what I look forward to most. Being able to impact and inspire someone daily is always my goal to run into somebody and maybe I can inspire them to do something they didn’t think they could do.”

It appears Christie and Westbrook already are on the same page when it comes to what the Kings are expecting out of the star point guard in his first season with the team.

“I want Russ to be Russ,” Christie said last week.

It sounds cliche. It sounds like propaganda. Even a great public relations answer. But Russell Westbrook might literally be incapable of being anyone other than himself.

And he hopes Kings fans can enjoy that player, and more importantly, the person in Sacramento.

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Warriors teammates Jimmy Butler and Buddy Hield are back at it with their adored love-hate relationship.

Butler first was asked what the score would be if he and Hield played each other in a 1-on-1 game.

“1-on-1? Ah, man. Too many [points] to zero,” Butler confidently stated. “Buddy has no chance.”

Hield later was captured talking about the matchup, admitting he can’t guard the six-time NBA All-Star in a 1-on-1 battle but has a better shot during a live 5-on-5 rep.

“On a 1-on-1 setting? Yes, he could go by me,” Hield said. “5-on-5? He’s going to jump in the air [and pass it]. I’m a better 5-on-5 defender than 1-on-1 against him because he’s just trying to bully. There’s all this space.”

Butler, of course, disagreed with what Hield was saying, stating he only shoots jump shots when they play 1-on-1 together — something the two argued about in a back-and-forth exchange.

“Let’s watch the film,” Butler said. “Buddy has never beat me 1-on-1.”

“I haven’t,” Hield responded. “I will admit I haven’t.”

At least Hield is honest.

The humble response perhaps had Butler have a change of heart, as he thought maybe that day would be the day his sharpshooting teammate finally would beat him.

“Today, Buddy can beat me,” Butler said.

In just a matter of days, the frenemies will shift from going against each other to fighting alongside one another as the Warriors chase a deep playoff run during the 2025-26 season, and ultimately, a championship.

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Steph Curry finally might get what he has wanted during the 2025-26 NBA season.

The league’s new “Heave Rule” takes effect this season, which states that any shot taken at least 36 feet away within the final three seconds of the first three quarters will count as a team shot attempt — not an individual one.

The goal is to encourage players to take more long-distance, end-of-quarter shots without negatively impacting their personal shooting percentages. Curry, who has taken plenty of those types of shots over his career, has been on board.

“I used to be like the grumpy old guy sitting on the porch yelling at people who didnâ€t take that shot because they were afraid of what it does to their shooting percentage,” Curry said (h/t The San Francisco Standard’s Tim Kawakami).

Curry has no shortage of unimaginable half-court buzzer-beater shots, and now with the new rule, he might have some competition.

The rule states the play must have started in the backcourt for it to apply.

While Curry is a fan of the half-court heaves, he acknowledged that the technicalities of the new rule are a bit too complex for his liking.

“That’s too much to think about,” he said. “Just play basketball.”

In 1,026 career games through 16 seasons with Golden State, Curry has averaged 24.7 points on 47.1-percent shooting from the field and 42.3 percent from 3-point range.

It’s safe to say his shooting percentages haven’t been damaged by his many, many long treys.

“I could care less,” Curry said. “I get, what? 10 extra field goals maybe throughout a whole season.”

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The Flyers did just enough offensively to rally for a 2-1 overtime win Saturday night over the Wild at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Noah Cates buried the winner in OT.

Owen Tippett tied the game in the final stanza with his third marker of the season. From under the goal line, Tippett banked a low shot off Minnesota netminder Jesper Wallstedt.

“We knew we were in the game all along,” Tippett said. “Low-event game, low-shot game and we were just waiting for one to break through.”

After that goal, Rick Tocchet moved Tippett up to Matvei Michkov’s spot on Sean Couturier’s line. Tippett was rolling and Tocchet shortened his bench a good bit.

“We just needed some energy,” Tocchet said. … “I went with the nine [forwards], I thought we started to come. That’s what happens sometimes.”

The Flyers needed a jolt offensively and Tippett provided it with his powerful skating. Tocchet called Tippett the Flyers’ most dynamic play-driver so far.

“He’s the fastest skater ever,” Trevor Zegras said. “It’s awesome. I’ve never played with a guy that has that much speed. He does some wild stuff sometimes. I think he did like a spin-o-rama in the third period. I was just like, ‘Oh my God.’ Somebody so big that skates that fast. It’s fun to watch.”

Through five games, the Flyers (2-2-1) have scored 13 goals, two of which have come on an empty net. But they’ve defended and have gotten some quality goaltending.

The Wild (2-3-1) didn’t have the benefit of a day off like the Flyers did Friday. Minnesota played last night on the road against the Capitals and lost, 5-1, in a game that it was outshot 45-14.

“We had a day off yesterday, so we were not tired,” Zegras said. “We knew that this was a back-to-back for them, so we tried to stick to the game plan and make it as hard for them as possible.”

Noah Cates scored his first career overtime winner in the Flyers’ 2-1 decision Saturday night over the Wild.

• Everyone knew this opening stretch would be tough for the Flyers when the schedule came out in July.

The Flyers faced the two-time defending champion Panthers twice, a Hurricanes team that has made the playoffs in seven straight seasons, a Jets team that won the Presidents’ Trophy last season and a Wild team that went to the playoffs last season.

Tocchet’s club was able to pick up at least a point in three of those five games.

• Dan Vladar continued his promising start to the season, converting 15 saves on 16 shots.

“I thought tonight we were structurally good and obviously Vladdy was fantastic,” Nick Seeler said. “I think those are things to build on.”

The free-agent addition has denied 71 of 76 shots through three games with the Flyers.

“Just a real confident, solid goalie,” Tocchet said. “He comes by the bench, cheers the guys on. He has really done a nice job for us.”

Vladimir Tarasenko opened the scoring Saturday night by blasting one past Vladar early in the second period. The Flyers used a coach’s challenge on the goal, claiming Minnesota was offside. But Tocchet and his staff came up empty, which put the Flyers at shorthanded.

Thirty-nine seconds after the Flyers killed off the penalty, Tippett was whistled for tripping. The Flyers killed that one off, too, but the penalties really stalled them offensively as they were forced to defend a lot.

“I thought we did a good job, that’s a good hockey team over there,” Seeler said. “It’s nice to hold them to that many shots and play good defensively.”

Wallstedt stopped 19 of the Flyers’ 21 shots.

• Tocchet didn’t like his team’s start two nights ago when the Flyers were flat in a 5-2 loss to the Jets.

“Arriving on time with your identity, which we didn’t,” the head coach said Saturday morning. “So that’s going to be a work in progress.

“We’ve got to get to our game right from after the national anthem; not after 20 minutes.”

The Flyers had a better first period against the Wild. They dictated play more, but didn’t have anything to show for it. However, Minnesota had just three shots.

The Flyers, though, followed it up with a poor second period. They were outshot 8-5 in the middle stanza.

“We fought in the third and fought in OT,” Cates said. “If we just stay consistent and play north, we can take down a lot of good teams.”

• Nicolas Deslauriers and Marcus Foligno dropped the gloves 1:56 minutes into the action.

Two former teammates that can chuck ’em.

Nicolas Deslauriers and Marcus Foligno dropped the gloves in a heavyweight fight during the first period of the Flyers vs. Wild game.

• Tocchet went with a more experienced look up front as Deslauriers and Rodrigo Abols drew into the lineup for Nikita Grebenkin and Jett Luchanko.

On the back end, Egor Zamula played in place of Adam Ginning, who sat for the first time this season.

• The Flyers wrap up their four-game homestand Monday when they welcome the Kraken (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP).

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Wow, what a week in sports. USC defeats Michigan, a Dodger pitches a complete game for the first time in the postseason since 2004 and they sweep the Brewers to go to the World Series for the second consecutive year after being 0-6 against Milwaukee during the regular season. Perhaps Michael Conforto will be added to the roster and win MVP in the World Series.

Jeff Hershow
Woodland Hills

While basically sleepwalking through the first three games of the NLCS, Shohei Ohtani saves his best for last. He goes “Hollywood†and produces the single greatest performance in MLB history as the final curtain comes down on the Milwaukee Brewers and extends the Dodgers’ magical journey to repeat as World Series champions.

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Stay tuned for the sequel!

Rick Solomon
Lake Balboa

Itâ€s a bird, itâ€s a plane … no, itâ€s superhuman Shohei! He pitches a shutout, strikes out 10, and hits three tape-measure home runs. Wow!

Marty Zweben
Palos Verdes Estates

In the history of Major League Baseball, has there ever been a player like Shohei Ohtani? I don’t think so. Shohei is the best ever. Enough said.

Chris Sorce
Fountain Valley

Now that the Dodgers have effortlessly powered their way back into the World Series, itâ€s quite obvious that $400 million actually does buy what it used to!

Jack Wolf
Westwood

At last, the second coming of the Dodgers has happened. We’ve been waiting for it and hoping for it, and now it’s here. Great offense, great defense and superb pitching. Our new chant should be “all the way L.A., all the way.”

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Cheryl Creek
Anaheim

Statistically speaking, there is a case to be made in comparing the postseason accomplishments of Sandy Koufax and Blake Snell. From a historical perspective, there is no comparison.

Koufax is a legendary lifetime Dodger who pitched until he physically was no longer able to do so. Snell famously refused to take the ball in his last Giants start to save himself for a free agency money windfall.

Bill Waxman
Simi Valley

Stop the presses! The world is still spinning on its axis! Holy Toledo, Dave Roberts finally figured out a starting pitcher’s arm doesn’t fall off after 100 pitches. Too bad he didn’t come to that revelation during Blake Snell’s Game 1 performance, but better late than never as the saying goes.

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Ken Blake
Brea

Money men

For many of us (back here in the Heartland), Sal Frelickâ€s miraculous play in Game 1 represents the “never give up†spirit of the Brewers. You can have all the money in world, but it cannot buy that type of magic. And if the Dodgers do defeat the Brewers, then MLB must ask themselves whether or not limitless money should be allowed to kill that type of team spirit.

If the Dodgers do indeed roll on, then for another minute we will be awestruck by the relentless, money-fueled, dancing Dodger machine. However after a few more moments of watching the smug glow from Hollywood, many of us (back here in the heartland) will just be turning it off!

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Ken Kraus
Georgetown, Texas

Quality stuff

I just finished reading the in-depth piece on Roki Sasaki by Jack Harris and all I can say is WOW! I get sports news from many sources but Los Angeles Times beats everything else, no contest. Learning about all the behind-the-scenes machinations that brought Sasaki from an injured, defeated rookie to the postseason MVP and Dodgers’ season savior was fascinating and gives me a deeper appreciation for the struggles he faces. Keep up the great work: Dodgers, Sasaki, and L.A. Times!!!

Cheryl Norris
Simi Valley

End of the line?

Very disappointing to read about the athletic director at UCLA unaware of what true leadership is, and how best to apply it, in support of a team not giving up and willing to fight the remainder of this season.

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Coaches are being terminated due to mismanagement of teams, so why not the Bruins’ AD?

J.R. Flores
Cypress

Time to punt

Coach Sean McVay’s lack of urgency with the Rams’ kicking game is beyond frustrating. The kicker and the special teams coach should have been fired after the Eagles game. Instead these problems, which have lingered since last season, are still here. The Rams need to have a kicking game they can depend on for points. With a good chance to make the playoffs, the time to make a change is now.

Mike Gamboa
Buena Park

The Los Angeles Times welcomes expressions of all views. Letters should be brief and become the property of The Times. They may be edited and republished in any format. Each must include a valid mailing address and telephone number. Pseudonyms will not be used.

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Email: sports@latimes.com

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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With Warriors guard Moses Moody doubtful for Golden State’s 2025-26 NBA season opener due to a calf strain, when could the fifth-year pro make his debut?

Stanford Medicine orthopedic surgeon Dr. Geoffrey Abrams, MD, provided some expert analysis on what Dub Nation can expect from Moody’s injury — which Warriors coach Steve Kerr said the team isn’t “too concerned” about — as he works his way back to the court.

“If the team is describing it as a minor muscle strain, it’s probably … some microscopic tearing and minor partial tearing,” Abrams told NBC Sports Bay Area on Friday. “The good news about that, obviously, it’s on the lesser severe end of the spectrum, and typical return-to-play timelines are a couple weeks or so for these more minor muscle grade strains.”

Kerr said this past Tuesday, Oct. 14, that Moody would be reevaluated in a week, with the Warriors set to open their new season against the Los Angeles Lakers this Tuesday at Crypto.com Arena. A return timeline of a couple weeks, as noted by Abrams, hopefully would put Moody back in Kerr’s rotation by Golden State’s Oct. 28 game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Chase Center, their fifth contest of the season.

There are several hurdles Moody will have to clear before that happens, Abrams explained.

“Obviously, the Warriors are a great professional organization and they’ve got top notch medical personnel, so they’re going to run him through the professional protocol and things like that,” Abrams said. “In terms of returning to play, he basically has to be able to participate in full practices 100 percent, and before he even gets to that, he has to demonstrate he’s got strength, range of motion, flexibility of the muscle and be able to do the things that are required for an NBA athlete, of course, before they even throw him into full practices.

“And then, once he’s comfortable with full practices and jumping and running up and down the court, that’s when you start to think about getting back into games. Sometimes … there’s situations where they may limit minutes initially before throwing him back into full pre-injury participation. But that just depends on a variety of different circumstances.”

After entering the Warriors’ starting lineup late last season en route to the NBA playoffs, Moody missed Golden State’s final three preseason contests this month with his calf issue.

As long as the Warriors don’t rush Moody back, Abrams noted, there’s little chance that the calf strain impacts Moody’s play moving forward, and the chance of an Achilles tear, as has been seen in countless NBA stars recently, is minimal.

“Certainly re-injury is also sometimes a possibility, but that’s why you go through the protocol is really to reduce that risk and not put him out there before he’s ready, which I’m sure the staff will do,” Abrams said.

Moody has proven himself as a valuable member of the Warriors’ lineup, and Kerr certainly hopes to have the 23-year-old back sooner rather than later.

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