Watch: Warriors rookies perform, Draymond Green dunks and Stephen Curry's scare at Chase Center open practice
WhyNBA Sports Desk · Oct 18, 2026
The story
The Golden State Warriors filled Chase Center for an open practice on Sunday, October 18, three days before they open the regular season against the Lakers, and the afternoon swung from rookie karaoke to a genuine worry.
The story
The league's own cameras caught most of it: the first-year players performing for the crowd, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler clowning around, and Stephen Curry leaving the floor during a scrimmage.
A full house before the games count
Open practice is the club's thank-you to its fans before the grind starts, and the turnout showed how much appetite there is for Curry's 18th season. Players spent long stretches at the baseline with the crowd instead of drilling.
The rookies take the microphone
Rookie initiation in Golden State means singing in front of the veterans, and Green's reaction tells you the newcomers passed. It is a small thing, but a team leaning on young depth wants those players comfortable in this arena early.
Yaxel Lendeborg works the stands
Lendeborg did not stay on the court for his number; he walked it up into the seats. That kind of ease in front of a big crowd is a good sign for a rookie about to play in one of the league's loudest buildings.
Draymond Green rocks the rim
Green finishing an alley-oop is rare enough to bring the building to its feet, and Lendeborg's celebration from the sideline is half the fun. At 36, Green is still the voice of this group, and he spent the day acting like it.
Jimmy Butler's bounce trick shot
Butler banked in a one-hop shot for the crowd, a reminder that he remains one of the loosest personalities in the locker room.
Butler and Green, all smiles
The two veterans set the tone for the Warriors, and the clip of them laughing together is the picture the club wants heading into opening week.
The one moment that quieted Chase Center
Curry went down in a scrimmage and walked off toward the locker room. The Warriors later called it a right ankle sprain, and Steve Kerr told reporters he had spoken with Curry and did not believe it was serious.
The one moment that quieted Chase Center
Our full report on Curry's injury has the details, and his status will be the first thing to watch on the injury report.
What comes next
Golden State opens the 2026-27 season at the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday, October 21, at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN (Game Center), then hosts Memphis on Friday, October 23.
Photo credit
File photo: Draymond Green in February 2022. Erik Drost · CC BY 2.0. Resized.
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