Woof. The Golden State Warriors are already dealing with some brutal news before the season even tips off, with center Charles Bassey ruled out for Wednesday night’s opener against the Los Angeles Lakers. This is a tough blow, especially since Kristaps Porzingis is *already* sidelined to start the 2026-27 NBA season. Head coach Steve Kerr is gonna have a seriously thin front court on opening night.
Bassey Sidelined With Knee Tendinitis, Depth Takes a Hit
According to Danny Emerman of The SF Standard, Bassey couldn’t make enough progress to play, even though he was listed as questionable earlier in the day with knee tendinitis. Talk about a gut punch right out of the gate! Losing one big man is tough, but losing two before you even play a real game? That’s a real test of depth for Golden State. Bassey was actually a clear third center behind Al Horford and Draymond Green during the preseason, precisely because Porzingis was out. So, this isn’t just a minor tweak to the rotation; it’s rattling the entire big man plan right from the jump.
What Golden State Is Missing in Bassey
You might remember Bassey from last season, where he made a positive impression down the stretch. That’s why the Warriors re-signed him to a one-year deal, banking on that G-League potential. And look, the dude put up some serious numbers for the Santa Cruz Warriors: in 17 games (16 starts), he averaged a dominant 20.4 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks in 29.1 minutes. His shooting splits were solid too: 61.0% from the field, 40.5% from deep, and 65.9% from the line. Even in his limited eight NBA games, he averaged 2.9 points and 2.6 boards in just 6.6 minutes. Project that out to 36 minutes, and you’re looking at 15.6 points, 14.3 rebounds, 2.7 blocks, and 1.4 steals. That’s real production, man! That’s the kind of energy and presence they’re now missing.
Who Steps Up Against the Lakers?
So, with Bassey sidelined, who’s gonna fill those minutes? It looks like rookie two-way big man Graham Ike will likely crack the rotation. And honestly, we might even see rookie first-round pick Yaxel Lendeborg get a few minutes as a small-ball five. It’s not ideal to be throwing rookies into the fire for significant minutes on opening night, especially against a team like the Lakers. But that’s the hand Coach Kerr has been dealt. This Wednesday night opener isn’t just about getting a win; it’s about seeing which young guys can step up and prove they belong when the depth is truly tested.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Golden State of Mind.
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