The Golden State Warriors’ rotation has suffered a devastating blow as the team confirmed Tuesday evening that wing Moses Moody sustained a torn patellar tendon in his left knee.
The injury effectively ends Moody’s 2025-26 season and is expected to keep him off the court for the “vast majority” of the 2026-27 campaign. Moody is scheduled to undergo surgery in San Francisco later this week.
While a definitive return timeline will not be established until after the procedure, the recovery for a patellar rupture typically involves a lengthy, year-long rehabilitation process.
The injury occurred late in overtime during Monday’s 137-131 win over the Dallas Mavericks. After intercepting a pass for a wide-open dunk attempt, Moody’s left leg appeared to give out upon planting his foot.
A gruesome injury in Dallas
Moody collapsed immediately, clutching his knee in shock as medical personnel rushed the floor with a stretcher. Teammates and staff surrounded Moody in a silent American Airlines Center as his leg was stabilized.
“No words,” teammate Brandin Podziemski said of the locker room atmosphere. “You just hate to see it. Especially to the good people in life.” Head coach Steve Kerr described the incident as “looking bad,” praising Moody’s work ethic and character.
The loss of Moody comes almost exactly two months after Jimmy Butler’s season-ending ACL injury, further thinning a Warriors wing rotation that had been a primary strength.
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mpact on the Warriors’ postseason trajectory
Moody was in the midst of a breakout year, the first of a three-year, $37.5 million extension, and was averaging career highs in points (12.1), rebounds (3.3), and three-point shooting (40.1%).
With two core contributors now sidelined for the foreseeable future, Golden State must once again recalibrate its depth as they approach the final stretch of the 2026 season.
Moody traveled back to San Francisco with vice president of player health and performance Rick Celebrini to begin the first steps of his recovery.
