Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors has been out with a knee injury since late January, and the superstar point guard could miss even more time based on a new injury update.
Additionally, with the Warriors’ struggles this season and the Play-In Tournament limbo they expect to be in for the rest of the season, keeping Curry out for an even longer period is the major decision Golden State faces right now.
According to NBA insider Brett Siegel, taking a cautious approach with Curry’s injury return is the right move, as with the team’s current record and overall minimal playoff hopes, there’s no reason to risk another setback at this point with this current roster.
“Given their position in the West standings, the Warriors have zero reason to rush Curry back,” Siegel wrote for ClutchPoints.com. “Having Steph available for the play-in tournament will be essential, as will ensuring he is 100 percent healthy for whoever they possibly face in a first-round playoff series.”
Curry has been out since January 30th, and while he was expected to return shortly after the All-Star Break, the Warriors star is set to miss even more games, with no direct timeline for a return.
Siegel wrote that, according to his sources, the earliest return date for Curry could come on March 15th against the New York Knicks, but based on all the latest updates, that remains a pipe dream.
Warriors Eyeing Massive Stephen Curry Injury Decision
Curry has been dealing with the knee injury for a while now, and though the team found no major damage after a February MRI, injury updates continue to push back any potential return date.
“It’s going to be a little longer,” Curry told ESPN’s Malika Andrews. “Right now with this one, it’s just about can each day. Can you stack good days, and I’ve done that, so hopefully they can unleash me on the court soon and get back out there sooner than later.”
While there was hope Curry would return from his Runner’s Knee shortly after the All-Star Break, the latest update signals he’ll be out at least the team’s next five games, and potentially longer.
“Steph Curry will be re-evaluated again in 10 days, per source,” Anthony Slater wrote in a post on X a few days ago. “Making progress on that ‘unpredictable‘ right knee issue, as Curry called it, but that’ll rule him out of at least the next five Warriors games. He’s missed the last 10 games.”
Along with the possibility that Curry’s knee injury is worse and more concerning than the Warriors are leading on, he’s also set to turn 38 years old in just a few weeks. Though he was still an All-NBA candidate before he went down, having one of the oldest players in the league leading Golden State while playing on a knee injury doesn’t bode well for any potential playoff hopes.
“At this point, the playoffs are all that matter for Curry and the Warriors. If they are healthy come time for postseason play, Steve Kerr, Draymond Green, and this team understand that they can truly defeat any team in a seven-game series,” Siegel added. “Having Steph available for the play-in tournament will be essential, as will ensuring he is 100 percent healthy for whoever they possibly face in a first-round playoff series…That is why there is no rush to bring him back.”
After New Kristpas Porzingis Update And Full Injury Report, Do The Warriors Punt On This Season?
Speaking to the media on Monday, Kerr said that he was unsure if new addition Kristaps Porzingis would travel with the Warriors on their upcoming road trip. The Latvian big man has played just one game with Golden State since arriving at the trade deadline, and is currently out with a ‘mystery‘ illness.
“It’s a little mysterious,” the coach said. “We’re working with him hoping he can get some clarity and breakthrough and get to a point (where) he’s consistently healthy.”
Porzingis has now missed five games in a row with what the team is simply describing as a general illness, and he was dealing with an Achilles injury upon his trade deadline arrival. He currently has no timeline for a return.
Along with the uncertain status of Porzingis and Curry, Jimmy Butler is out for the season with a torn ACL, Green has been in and out of the lineup with injuries, and the Warriors have also dealt with health concerns to a number of other players.
While, as Siegel wrote, Golden State is still eyeing a playoff push should Curry ever come back healthy, with everything that’s happened this season, it begs the question of whether this is really the year to risk ending the dynasty to win one, at best, two playoff rounds?
The Warriors are expected to target Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer, as they failed at the trade deadline, in hopes of keeping the Curry-era dynasty alive. While it’s a tough task to just throw away one of the last remaining seasons they’ll have with the superstar, based on all the terrible injury luck they’ve had this year, turning the page might be the best move.
Until a new Curry injury update emerges or a potential return date is announced, the Warriors remain in limbo, waiting for their franchise centerpiece to come back and provide some hope.
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