Podziemski, Bassey Both Questionable for Warriors' Opener vs. Lakers
Golden State could open the season without its $110M guard and backup center, piling onto an injury list that already includes Butler and Porzingis.
Lock starter when healthy, but back soreness clouds the opener.
- Podziemski: 27.8 FPTS/G in 82 games last season (2025-26)
- Both missed the final preseason practice Tuesday
- Warriors already without Butler, Porzingis and Moody
- Podziemski signed a 5-year, $110M extension
- Bassey: knee tendonitis sidelined him Friday
Steve Kerr walked out of Tuesday's practice with a couple of question marks the Warriors can't really afford. Both Brandin Podziemski and Charles Bassey sat out the final preseason session and are listed as questionable for the opener against the Lakers. Podziemski is managing lower back soreness; Bassey is fighting knee tendonitis that already cost him Friday's preseason game.
The timing stings because Golden State is already thin. Butler, Kristaps Porzingis and Moses Moody are all out, so losing a fourth-year guard who put up 13.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists across all 82 games last season (2025-26) — good for 27.8 fantasy points per game — would hurt. Podziemski just signed a five-year, $110 million extension and is a near-lock for the starting five whenever he's available.
The Depth Chart Domino Effect
Kerr hasn't committed to a lineup, but he's leaning toward Curry, Podziemski, Yaxel Lendeborg, Gui Santos and Draymond Green. If Podziemski can't go, expect De'Anthony Melton or Brandon Williams to slide in, with Gary Payton II and possibly Will Richard soaking up backcourt minutes. Williams is the one worth tracking — he averaged 24 fantasy points per game in 66 games last season (2025-26) and is trending up, sitting at +4.5 fantasy points over his last five versus his season average.
The center picture is messier. Kerr actually started Bassey over Santos in the preseason finale, leaving the door open for the sixth-year big to grab the opening-day nod — but the knee complicates that. If Bassey sits, Graham Ike should see real run on his two-way deal, something Kerr has openly wanted to make happen.
That matters because Al Horford is the only other healthy center, and he's fading. Horford logged 8.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 45 games last season (2025-26) for 22.6 fantasy points per game, and his last five sit at -9.9 versus that average. At our #170 overall rank (#32 at the position), he's a stopgap, not a solution.
The Fantasy Fallout
Don't drop Podziemski over a game-time call — he's our #114 overall guard and a locked-in starter the moment his back cooperates. If you need a short-term plug, Brandon Williams is the sharper flier than Bassey (unranked, 14.6 fantasy points per game in just 13 games last season). And keep Graham Ike on your watch list: if Bassey's ruled out, a stream-worthy center could fall into your lap by tip-off.
