The Golden State Warriors are still waiting for star point guard Stephen Curry to return from knee trouble.
Curry, 38, has battled a bothersome runner’s knee since late January.
The two-time MVP first experienced pain in his right knee while working out in Minneapolis on Jan. 24. Less than a week later, Curry began what has gone on to be a lengthy, frustrating shutdown.
With April looming, there is still no clear timetable on Curry’s return. However, what is certain is that Curry’s chances to play again this season are diminishing.
Golden State has just seven games remaining in the regular season. That is, the Warriors are hoping for Curry to return and shake off the rust in this short time. That is one tough ask, even for a basketball immortal like the Baby Faced Assassin.
Golden State Warriors could shutdown Curry if no return date materializes
That’s right.
With all the talk about Curry’s return and how he’ll throw on his hero cape to save the season, the two-time MVP might entirely miss out on showing off his chops again this season.
Curry was re-evaluated last Friday. The team announced the 12-time All-Star has made strides in his recovery but hasn’t reached a point to where a definite return date can be established.
Curry will get checked out again this week, but he has been for several weeks in a row. Golden State has only vaguely disclosed the guard’s status. Expect this week’s update to be no different unless Curry makes significant progress.
GettyStephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors.
But Curry and the Warriors are where they are. The fact of the matter has become that the chances of Curry not playing again this season are growing.
Head coach Steve Kerr has confirmed the team wants to bring Curry back this season — if he is fully healthy.
According to Danny Emerman of The San Francisco Standard, the Warriors aren’t likely to play Curry for the play-in game if he doesn’t get some run in the regular season first.
“The case for Curry to eventually return is that he already did so when faced with a similar situation earlier in his career,” Emerman wrote. “He broke his hand four games into the 2019-20 campaign and the team bottomed out. Still, even with nothing of substance to play for, Curry returned for one game in March. Just don’t expect the Warriors to throw Curry back into the fire fresh off a two-month absence into games that are played with the intensity of playoff matchups. Without a cleared runway, Curry’s season could get grounded.”
Case in point: Warriors not willing to risk Curry’s future for small short-term return
No matter how one slices it, Golden State has dealt with Curry’s injury very well.
The franchise has been patient the entire time, even preempting him from scrimmaging with the team until he demonstrates more progress with his knee.
Curry making his return from injury in the Warriors’ first play-in game would simply be pushing all limits. To ask a 38-year-old to jump right into a game with playoff intensity would be injustice to his health — and his future. He only has so many years left to play, and playing hurt over that time would be a terrible way to close out an iconic career.
Curry has been off a long time and absolutely needs some tune-up before going all-out.
If Curry misses this week, the Warriors will be left with just four regular season games to make his return a possibility.
While four tilts aren’t many, it could be adequate time for Curry to get loose.
He’ll need to make his return for Golden State’s home game against the Sacramento Kings on April 7 to perhaps realistically keep his hopes alive to play again this season.
Steph Curry Injury Update: Warriors Could Shutdown Star Before Play-In Game