When De’Anthony Melton returned from his ACL injury two months ago, the Golden State Warriors were ecstatic to have him back. A two-way force who could excel on any team, his smooth reintegration after a brief stint on the team last year has been a welcome sight.
The Warriors were careful to temper expectations given that he had gone a full year without playing an NBA game. Even though Melton got off to a cold stretch offensively in his first month back, he still provided a boost to the team. Now, with Jimmy Butler missing the remainder of the 2025-26 season, the Warriors need Melton more than ever.
More Than Just Scoring
Melton was finally getting his wind back when his fellow bench co-captain, Butler, went down. While De’Anthony Melton isn’t Jimmy Butler, the 27-year-old’s IQ and defensive presence will be crucial in steadying the ship the rest of the way.
Melton averages just over nine points a game for his NBA career, but his value to the Warriors goes far beyond the box score. One of the Warriors’ primary issues this season has been a lack of point-of-attack defense, frequently allowing blow-bys to the rim and easy baskets.
Melton is still working his way back from his ACL tear, yet he is one of the team’s top defenders. His elite basketball instincts, like always being in the right place at the right time, make him versatile in guarding opponents’ best players. With Butler out, Melton has also seen an increased role in steering the bench unit.
Even with a minutes restriction, he still finds ways to be effective in both the Curry and non-Curry lineups. The Warriors’ win against Minnesota on Sunday saw the second unit maintain the lead as Curry rested. The third quarter bench rollout of Melton, Gui Santos, Quinten Post, Buddy Hield, and Will Richard ballooned their lead to 22 while Curry sat.
There were numerous possessions in which Melton not only defended at a high level but also set up his teammates for good looks. In one specific possession towards the end of the third, he found himself in a tough position against Julius Randle. He managed to maneuver around his defender to find Post for an open three. His knack for getting into passing lanes has also helped disrupt opponents. Oftentimes, these steals blow up opponents’ plays and allow the Warriors to get out in transition.
Melton Impacts Winning
Ahead of their second night rematch against the Timberwolves, the 8-year veteran leads the league in plus-minus in January despite averaging just under 21 minutes.
Melton knows that without Butler, the team will need to remain confident and aggressive, particularly when Curry is sitting. An undermanned squad won’t stop Melton from continuing to give his all every time he steps on the court.
“We’ve got a deep roster, so we’ve just got to continue. Just keep fighting,” he said postgame after beating the Hornets without Butler.
Getting downhill, kicking out to open shooters, and keeping the ball moving are what Melton views as the keys to remaining competitive. These also happen to be what he consistently brings to the table.
Melton Gives Them Hope
The Warriors face an uphill battle to clinch a guaranteed playoff position in the gauntlet that is the Western Conference. But sitting at just one-and-a-half games out of sixth means there’s still time to secure a spot.
Coach Steve Kerr believes this team is more prepared to handle a star’s absence this season compared to last season. A large reason he believes that is due to De’Anthony Melton’s impactful play.
The first half of the season has thrown every curveball possible towards the Warriors. They have a keen resilience by continuing to fight and claw even when their backs are against the wall, and now, they’ll need to show it more than ever before. Luckily for them, they have Melton on their side to help them continue to do that.
Leave a comment