Brandon Williams’ hamstring injury is looking like a short-term setback, and for the Warriors, that’s a huge relief after the initial scare Monday night.
Williams went down in the first quarter of Golden State’s 138-87 blowout of the New Orleans Pelicans, then headed to the locker room and was quickly ruled out with what the team called a “left hamstring injury.” The plan at the time was for him to undergo further imaging, and the early concern around the injury had plenty of weight behind it.
“Yeah, it’s a big concern. He’s a huge part of our team, and he’s given us such a lift,” head coach Steve Kerr said after the game.
“And it’s a hamstring. He’s going to get an MRI, so we’ll see how bad it is.”
That anxiety has eased now that the timetable points to Williams missing at least one week, rather than something much worse. For a Warriors team that has already spent plenty of time navigating injuries, that matters.
Williams has been one of Golden State’s most useful bench pieces since signing a minimum contract late in the offseason and earning one of the team’s final roster spots. Behind Stephen Curry and Brandin Podziemski, he’s given the backcourt a jolt.
Through 10 games, Williams is averaging 10.4 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists while shooting 41.3 percent from the field. The Warriors have been plus-41 with him on the floor, which ranks sixth on the team.
His value has shown up in more than just the box score. Williams has brought one-on-one scoring and a defensive edge that has helped shape the Warriors’ identity early in the 2026-27 season.
The injury also lands in the middle of a season already shaped by absences. The Warriors have been dealing with over $80 million sitting on the bench, and they’ve kept moving anyway.
Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody are still working back from major knee injuries and are aiming for returns at some point in 2027, while Kristaps Porzingis has been away from the team since the start of training camp because of ongoing health issues. His locker was recently cleaned out, and it is expected he’ll be traded in the coming weeks as Golden State looks to use his $20 million salary slot to add depth.
The team also recently lost Will Richard to a torn UCL in his left thumb. He’s expected to be out indefinitely, though the Warriors are still weighing whether surgery is necessary or whether he can play through it.
With Williams now sidelined, the next man up is likely LJ Cryer. The 25-year-old guard, in his second year on a two-way contract, stepped in Monday and scored 10 points in 20 minutes off the bench.
Golden State will try to keep the momentum rolling Wednesday night at Houston. The Warriors have won eight straight after dropping their first three games, tying the San Antonio Spurs for the longest active winning streak in the NBA.
And in the bigger picture, the start has already made history: the Warriors are the first team in NBA history to begin a season 0-3 and then climb all the way to 8-3.
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Warriors Blowout Came With A New Injury Concern Off The Bench
The Warriors lopsided win over the Pelicans still came with a potentially meaningful setback off the bench, as Brandon Williams exited with a left hamstring injury. Golden State said Williams will undergo an MRI, with a further update to come after the team gets more information on the extent of the issue. It was another reminder that even in a comfortable night on the scoreboard, the details matter for a rotation that has been leaning on depth.
Williams has been in his first season with the Warriors and had scored four points before leaving the game, a brief but useful stretch before the injury cut his night short. For a team trying to keep its bench steady through the long haul, the next report on his status will be worth watching closely, especially if the hamstring issue lingers beyond this one game. [Read more 🡒]
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The Warriors are already being pushed toward some uncomfortable roster questions as they look for ways to keep their championship window open around Stephen Curry. One possible avenue under discussion is Kristaps Porzingis, whose availability is complicated by symptoms tied to an autoimmune disorder called POTS, but the bigger conversation may be closer to home with Golden State weighing broader changes before the deadline.
Draymond Green is at the center of that uncertainty, since he is on an expiring contract and could become part of a larger shake-up if the front office decides the current mix needs a reset. Nothing has been officially confirmed, but the mere possibility of moving a longtime cornerstone speaks to how seriously the Warriors are approaching this stretch and how much pressure there is to maximize the Curry era while there is still time. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Were Right To Get Cautious On Myles Turner
The Warriors interest in Myles Turner has taken on a different tone as the season has unfolded, with Golden State now reportedly looking for draft assets just to absorb the rest of his contract. That kind of shift says plenty about how quickly the market can change when a players early-season production does not match the expectations attached to his name. For a team trying to balance present needs with future flexibility, the appeal of a move like that becomes a lot more complicated when the price stops looking like a bargain.
Turners uneven start has only sharpened the contrast with Kristaps Porzingis, whose trade value may be climbing because he is reportedly open to a buyout. From the Warriors perspective, that matters because it changes the pool of big-man options and the cost of doing business in a market that can turn fast. Golden State was right to be cautious on Turner, and now the bigger question is whether a more appealing path opens elsewhere before the deadline picture gets even messier. [Read more 🡒]