Warriors' Moses Moody problem looks more forgiving after 76ers' brutal injury blow

Moses Moody's performance for the Golden State Warriors was inconsistent after the All-Star break, with a sharp decline in production late in the season that created challenges for the team and head coach Steve Kerr. After establishing a consistent starting lineup that included Moody, Kerr had to make adjustments because the young wing player's shooting efficiency dropped significantly; he shot only 31.1% from three-point range over the final 13 regular-season games and 33.3% during the playoffs.

It was later disclosed that Moody had been playing with a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his thumb, which necessitated surgery. This injury revelation offers some explanation for his late-season struggles and generates optimism about his ability to recover and contribute effectively when the Warriors begin their new campaign next month.

Injury concerns are emerging across the NBA as teams prepare for training camps, including the Philadelphia 76ers, who announced that rookie guard Jared McCain suffered a similar thumb injury to Moody's. According to reports, McCain could be sidelined for up to three months, potentially delaying his return until after Christmas, which is a significant setback for the 76ers after an injury-plagued previous season and cuts short McCain's promising rookie year.

This situation underscores the severity of the thumb injury and highlights Moody's resilience in playing through pain and discomfort at the end of last season. In an offseason interview, Moody described the difficulty, stating that he had to shoot with only four fingers and could not properly grip the ball.

Before the injury, Moody was exhibiting some of the best form of his career, averaging 12.8 points and 3.3 rebounds per game while shooting 49.2% from the field and 43.3% from three-point range over 14 consecutive games as a starter.

Despite many dismissing Moody as a viable starting option for the Warriors due to his playoff struggles, the timeline of McCain's recovery reinforces that Moody's performance was injury-related. This suggests that Moody has the potential to rebound and become a key contributor as Golden State aims for championship contention in the upcoming season.