“Mr. Do Something” has nothing much to do now but to wait until he recovers. De’Anthony Melton came to the Golden State Warriors with fire in his heart and a promise of impact. But fate, unkind and unforgiving, had other plans. His season is over, cut short by an ACL injury. Surgery looms ahead, and the court must wait until next year. In the meantime, one thing is clear—For Draymond Green, his close friend and plane buddy, the loss feels quite personal.

“It sucks,” Green expressed in the post-game presser on Wednesday. “We had lineups with him in it are good, really good- and what he brings to the team.” Melton’s tenure in the NBA hasn’t been what you’d say is glorious. However, the kind of competition and energy that he brings to the game makes him an asset to any team. Thus, Draymond Green shares his emotions over the guard’s injury. “What he was bringing to this team was great. So we’ll miss that.”

DrayMagic further notes: “But what we’ll miss more is just his presence around, his attitude, his demeanor every single day, always smiling, never upset about anything, just always bringing great vibes.” The 34YO forward, Stephen Curry, Kyle Anderson, Buddy Hield, and De’Anthony Melton, were table buddies and formed a great bond. “But when you start to forge relationships with guys off the court, you know, that always takes precedence,” Green added. Dr. Dunkenstein and Mr. Do Something fly a lot, so they’re plane buddies, too!

However, “He’s not dead, so I’m not going to sit here and act like he’s dead. Wishing him well and, you know, have a successful surgery,” reminded Draymond Green. Seeing younger talents like De’Anthony Melton go off the lineup because of freak injuries is truly disheartening. Nonetheless, he will have his chances to return, and Draymond believes that whenever the 26-year-old returns, it will be a grand one.

Melton sustained a left ACL strain during the Golden State Warriors‘ 120-117 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Nov.12. The injury happened during a tough play in the game. Melton had scored 14 points, including a clutch steal against Luka Doncic. Postgame evaluations showed the severity of the injury. Surgery is on the way, and he is now sidelined indefinitely.

Can Melton’s absence be a blow to Draymond Green’s ring dreams?

After overhauling their roster, the Warriors hoped to fill Klay Thompson’s shoes by committee. In just his 10th game, De’Anthony Melton, the lone offseason veteran to start, was alongside Stephen Curry. But a left ACL injury on November 12 shattered those plans. Melton will undergo surgery and miss the rest of the season, derailing Golden State’s vision before the month was even out. What does this mean for Draymond Green & Co.?

It is another bout of lacking on-ball defense like last season. This weakness contributed to Green and the team finishing with a 15th rank in the league’s defense chart. Except for De’Anthony Melton, no one addressed this matter more seriously. This is also why he has been high on the list of reasons the Warriors have climbed to fourth in defensive rating. So now, in his absences, Brandin Podziemski might take on the PG duties, but that is just a possibility.

However, reports suggest that Lindy Waters III is the most likely candidate to fill in for Draymond Green’s injured good friend. Waters isn’t as tough a defender as Melton, but 6-foot-6, he’s a rangier, natural 3-point shooter. This may not be permanent, as Moses Moody and Podz are options to play alongside Curry, though both have roles in the second unit.

De’Anthony Melton’s injury is a big blow to the Warriors. It’s likely to disrupt their defense and Draymond Green’s quest for a fifth ring. Meanwhile, youngsters could step in, but none match Melton’s defensive intensity. The Warriors face a tough road ahead without him. How Steve Kerr will adjust to this new situation will be interesting to observe in the upcoming games.