Last season was a tough stretch for Golden State Warriors guard DeAnthony Melton. While navigating his second season with the Philadelphia 76ers, Milton suffered a back injury.
After just a few preseason games with the Warriors, Milton’s back issues surfaced again.
According to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, Milton is dealing with tightness in the middle back. As a result, he was ruled out of Golden State’s game on Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Lakers.
According to the report, the Warriors are “cautious” with Milton heading into the regular season.
DeAnthony Milton: Tightness in the middle back. Out tonight. Steve Kerr said it was tightened this morning and they are “cautious”.
– Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) October 16, 2024
Backfield issues were the story of Milton’s two-year career with the Sixers. After landing with the 76ers in 2022 via a trade from the Memphis Grizzlies, Milton dealt with back concerns throughout the 2022-2023 season. Fortunately, they were not strict enough to take him off the field.
April 9, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard De’Anthony Melton (8) drives a shot against the Detroit Pistons during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagine Photos/Bill Streicher-Imagine Photos
Milton appeared in 77 regular season games during his first season with the Sixers. In the playoffs, he averaged 25 minutes in 11 games. Last year, Milton was primed for an important role in the Sixers’ backcourt, but a lack of availability affected his role over the course of the season.
He appeared in just 38 games last year. While Milton had a career-high 11 points and two steals per game during that span, Milton had no role on the team by the time the playoffs began. In the first round against the New York Knicks, Milton only played in one game for the Sixers.
Since he was on a one-year contract, Milton’s injury struggles affected his value on the free agency market. Instead of getting a multi-year commitment from the Sixers or any other team, Milton got a prove-it deal from the Warriors. He will reportedly make $12 million next season before becoming a free agent again.
