Gui Santos was the Golden State Warriors' biggest positive from the otherwise disastrous Jimmy Butler injury last season, having enjoyed a breakout period thanks to more playing time and usage within Steve Kerr's offense.
But Santos' own knee injury now threatens to erase that breakout period, with the young forward already dealing with an ongoing concern that he'll have to manage less than two weeks into the season.
Gui Santos injury could erase major breakout period
Santos has been dealing with knee tendinitis that Steve Kerr confirmed has been "definetly bothering him." The 24-year-old missed Wednesday's win over the Timberwolves in Minnesota, abeofre playing only 16 minutes -- including only five in the second half -- during Friday's remarkable comeback victory over the Los Angeles Lakers at Chase Center.
When any young player enjoys a breakout period and really finds their footing in the league -- especially as a skeptical late second-round pick -- the last thing they want to do is lose that momentum entering the next season.
Santos would have hoped he could continue his excellent form from after the All-Star break where he averaged 15.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists while shooting 48.7% from the floor. He's instead averaged 7.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists through his first five games this season, with the knee concern not helping matters for an already injury-hit Warrior team.
Santos has also been somewhat a victim of Yaxel Lendeborg's stunning emergence not only into the Golden State rotation, but as their second offensive option behind Stephen Curry. It means less plays are being run through Santos and others, and less chance for him to put up the kind of numbers we saw at the end of last season.
Gui Santos could be shuffled back in Warriors' rotation
The problem for Santos is that if this knee injury either sees him miss games, or at the very least limits his impact, the fourth-year forward could find himself suffled back in Kerr's rotation once Butler and Moses Moody return from their respective knee injuries.
Suddenly Butler, Lendeborg, Moody and Draymond Green could be ahead of Santos in terms of wing/forward options, and even veteran Georges Niang has proven himself as an option with strong form over the past three games. That's also not accounting for potential moves Golden State could make before the mid-season trade deadline.
Santos is expected to play in the Warriors' first night of a back-to-back against the L.A. Clippers on Sunday night, but could be forced to rest against the Phoenix Suns on Monday.
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