Chris Paul, having undergone surgery earlier this year to address a fractured left hand, is poised to make his return to the court. Golden State Warriors’ head coach Steve Kerr has confirmed that Paul will feature in their upcoming game against the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night.
Paul’s absence has been notable since his injury on January 5th, which necessitated surgery shortly thereafter.
Kerr highlighted Paul’s anticipated role, stating, “Chris will play all of the non-Steph minutes, and he’ll be out there with Steph as well. It’s easier for us to put Steph off the ball and take some of the wear and tear off of him when Chris is out there.”
Paul’s injury occurred during the Warriors’ victory over the Pistons in January, following an awkward collision with Detroit guard Jaden Ivey while vying for a rebound. The immediate aftermath saw Paul clutching his hand in pain before exiting the court. Subsequently, he underwent the fifth hand surgery of his career.
Throughout the current season, Paul has contributed to 32 games for the Golden State Warriors, marking his debut with the franchise after three seasons with the Phoenix Suns.
In his role primarily off the bench, the 19-year veteran has averaged 8.9 points and 7.2 assists. He is expected to continue in this capacity alongside Klay Thompson, who has recently assumed a bench role.
Speaking on Paul’s return, Thompson expressed anticipation, stating, “I expect Chris to be himself. That’s just one of the greatest playmakers, a testy defender and [he can] just kind of right the ship when Steph needs a break.” The Warriors, currently positioned 10th in the Western Conference standings with a 29-27 record, embark on a four-game East Coast road trip following their upcoming game in Washington.
