Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors didn’t play in the team’s Wednesday night loss to Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs. However, while the French center is making a strong case for the MVP award this season, Curry, who has two trophies of his own, dropped some major quotes about how he sees Wembanyama at this stage of his career.
Curry, who is in the midst of returning from a knee injury that has sidelined him for more than two months, said that he knows what it feels like to be in Wembanyama’s shoes, though in a literal sense he probably doesn’t, as the 7’5″ center reportedly wears a 20.5 size.
While the Warriors star didn’t play on Wednesday against the Spurs, but ramping up for a return on Sunday against the Houston Rockets, based on the latest injury update, Curry played against Wembanyama and San Antonio three times already this season, and believes he is looking at a player similar to him, when it comes to how they each impact the game, and the NBA landscape as a whole.
Steph Curry On Victor Wembanyama After Warriors vs Spurs
GettySan Antonio Spurs’ French forward-center #01 Victor Wembanyama greets Golden State Warriors’ US guard #30 Stephen Curry before tip off of the NBA preseason game between the San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors at Chase Center in San Francisco, California.
Curry had a lot to say about Wembanyama, as reported by Jared Weiss of The Athletic. Despite not playing due to the knee injury, which has now kept him out for 26 consecutive games, the 2015 and 2016 MVP made his feelings clear about the 22-year-old making a strong case, both on the court and in front of microphones, for himself.
“He’s got attributes that, obviously, you can’t teach or truly understand because he’s such a one of one,” Curry said. “But I think most of all, from what I see, I don’t know him like that, but his competitive spirit and his energy is contagious in there. It’s not just his talent; it’s the way he approaches it, too.”
Wembanyama finished the win over the Warriors with 41 points, 18 rebounds, three assists, and three blocks on 16/22 shooting, breaking and tying Spurs’ franchise records in the process, and only increasing his MVP odds.
As has been seen leading his own MVP campaign, Curry said Wembanyama is much more outspoken than him at this point in his career.
“Talent can only take you so far with God-given attributes. But he seems more vocal than I was at the time, like at this stage,” Curry added. “And obviously, he’s the number one pick, so it’s a different trajectory than what I took in a little earlier development, but the same kind of vibe.”
Just like the two-time MVP from Golden State, Wembanyama has dealt with a few major injuries in the early part of his career. However, as Curry said, and what the Spurs’ star has shown, bouncing back from setbacks is more important than the setbacks themselves.
“It’s just how you deal with it. It’s not always going to be a straight line,” he added. “So how you deal with failure and how you deal with playoff experience and all of that, is going to define a lot. Because most people don’t get it done on their first try.”
In Weiss’ article, he also had quotes from Harrison Barnes and Warriors’ head coach Steve Kerr about Wembanyama.
“His first couple years he looked young at times. He doesn’t look young anymore. He looks like he knows exactly what he’s doing.”
“Several lobs it looked like a Nerf hoop.”
As the Spurs’ star’s MVP odds have only been rising over the past few weeks, he included a few postgame soundbites from the star himself, adding that with the team’s success this season, something the French center predicted before the year, he remains a rightful top favorite for the MVP award.
Steph Curry Injury Update
GettySAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 19: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after he had an assist to Gary Payton II against the Miami Heat at Chase Center on January 19, 2026 in San Francisco, California.
While the Warriors vs. Spurs game was notable for a few reasons, many of which revolved around Wembanyama, it did not feature Curry, who remains out with an injury.
However, based on the latest update, the 38-year-old is ramping up for a return.
It was reported on Tuesday that Curry finally practiced with the team, a big set in getting back on the court. That was then followed by the news that the star is eyeing a return on Sunday against the Rockets, first reported by Sam Amick and Nick Friedell of The Athletic.
“Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry is targeting Sunday’s home game against the Houston Rockets for his possible return, a league and team source told The Athletic on Tuesday afternoon,” the two wrote.
Shams Charania later confirmed the news of Curry’s return date. However, as Kerr said earlier in the week, it would require the three-point specialist to hit all the necessary checkpoints for a return, which so far, he’s on pace to do.
Before the Warriors’ game against San Antonio, the team made an official Curry injury update press release.
The team said that Curry scrimmaged with the team, and that he would be re-evaluated over the weekend, signaling the game against Houston is his most likely injury return date.
In just 39 games this season, Curry is averaging 27.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists on 46.8% shooting from the field and 39.1% from three-point range.
The Warriors are now 9-17 without him, and after their loss to MVP candidate Wembanyama and the Spurs, are now 36-40 in the season, bound for the Play-In Tournament, but hopeful to get Curry back soon.
Warriors’ Steph Curry Has Choice Words For Victor Wembanyama Amid Injury Return