Draymond Green Rumors: 'No Light at the End of the Tunnel' for Warriors PF's Injuries

AP Photo/Jeff Chiu

The Golden State Warriors have been without forward Draymond Green for the past nine games, and it doesn't appear that he will be able to return anytime soon.

Marc J. Spears of ESPN's The Undefeated reported Monday that Green's absence is likely to continue because of the uncertainty surrounding his back injury.

"He still has another week before the Warriors reevaluate him," Spears said on NBA Today. "But right now, I keep hearing there's no light at the end of the tunnel. And I'm wondering if perhaps this could go a little longer."

Green injured his calf in warm-ups prior to Golden State's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Jan. 9. It was later revealed that the calf issue was related to a back injury.

Green played the opening tip against the Cavaliers to show support of Klay Thompson in his first game back from a two-and-a-half-year absence. But Green immediately left the floor after the tip and hasn't suited up since.

The Warriors (34-13) have gone 5-4 since Thompson's return. Golden State has not played with the same efficiency on offense and defense as it did while Green was on the floor.

"He's the heart and soul of this team," Spears added. "The same way we saw with [Rudy] Gobert's absence and how much it's hurt the Utah Jazz, I think you're seeing that with the Warriors right now. They need him on both ends of the court. But it's very uncertain when Draymond might be back."

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Green is averaging 7.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.4 assists in 34 games. He looked like the early front-runner for Defensive Player of the Year as he anchored the top-rated defense in the league. Green's playmaking on offense has also been missed by Golden State.

The Warriors will return to action on Tuesday at home against the Dallas Mavericks.