Chris Paul fractured his left hand during the Golden State Warriors win over the Detroit Pistons on Friday (Jan. 5.) The veteran point guard was jostling for a rebound when the injury occurred. Paul, an off-season addition to the Warriors, has since undergone surgery.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Paul will now miss four-to-six weeks as he begins his recovery. The NBA Insider did note that an eight-day All-Star break will help “soften the blow” for the Warriors. Nevertheless, losing the veteran guard will be a big blow for the franchise, especially in terms of continuity within their second unit.
Paul has played in 32 games this season, averaging 8.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 7.2 assists while shooting 42.4% from the field and 36.1% from 3-point range. Brandin Podziemski could see his playing time increase while Paul is recovering, or veteran guard Cory Joseph could assume a bigger role within the rotation.
ESPN Sources: After undergoing surgery to repair a fracture in his left hand in the coming week, Golden State Warriors guard Chris Paul is expected to miss four-to-six weeks: https://t.co/7i8rnIJ8NN
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 7, 2024
Regardless of who steps in for Paul, the Warriors will likely feel his absence over the coming weeks and will be looking forward to welcoming him back into the rotation once he’s healed up and ready to step back onto the court.