Report: Warriors to work out veteran guard Collison originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
Darren Collison hasn’t played in the NBA since 2019, but he could be exploring a return, as he will workout for the Warriors this week, Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes reported Monday citing league sources.
Adding another ballhandler to the bench has been a need for the Warriors this offseason, and Collison certainly would fill that need.
In 76 starts for the Indiana Pacers in 2018-19, Collison averaged 11.2 points and 6.0 assists and played 28.2 minutes per night. Collison retired in June 2019, citing his faith and aspirations to focus on helping those less fortunate than himself, as he told ESPN’s The Undefeated. Collison reportedly had significant interest from multiple NBA teams, but chose to step away.
“While I still love basketball, I know there is something more important, which is my family and my faith,” Collison wrote in 2019. “I am one of Jehovah’s Witnesses and my faith means everything to me. I receive so much joy from volunteering to help others and participate in a worldwide ministry. The joy I feel is unmatched. With that being said, I have decided to retire from the NBA.”
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Now 34, Collison could bring some additional veteran leadership to the Warriors’ bench and be a reliable backup to Steph Curry at the point.
The Warriors have one roster spot remaining going into this season, with Gary Payton II also being a prime candidate for that spot based on his strong Summer League performance and defensive ability.
Depending on how Collison’s workout goes this week, he might end up being the recipient of that 15th and final roster slot.
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