The Golden State Warriors have been waiting for this moment for quite some time.
Sixty-two days, to be exact.
That’s how long it has been since superstar point guard Stephen Curry has played an NBA game. He hasn’t faced such an extensive absence since back in the 2019-20 campaign.
Curry was 31 at the time. He’s 38 now. His body will surely react much differently to the long lay off this time around, but how worried should the Warriors be about that?
Perhaps time will tell.
For now, the momentum is mounting on a potential Curry return this week.
The two-time MVP finally gained permission by the team’s medical staff to participate in a five-on-five scrimmage. Even a closed-door session like that can feel intense after over two months of being forced to sit on the bench in street clothes.
The Warriors have obviously missed Curry in his absence. They haven’t even cracked double-digit wins since the time he has been out. The entire season has been one of struggles and direly-needed patience.
For all the adversity, it is hard to complain about this season and the amount of fight the team has shown. But the expectations will ramp up slightly from the very first game Curry is back in the blue and yellow.
Golden State Warriors hopeful for biggest Curry development yet
On Tuesday, Curry participated in the team practice and an all-out scrimmage afterward. That meant he was closer to returning to the hardwood than at any point over the last 60-plus days.
Head coach Steve Kerr drew nothing but positives in Curry’s first semi-involvement in intense action. But that was only step one. The second step, which is expected to take place today, and its outcome is ready to be learned.
Yesterday, coach Kerr revealed Curry’s second scrimmage is set to take place Thursday. How the 38-year-old Warriors star feels after the fact will likely tell the team all it needs to know about just how imminent a return date is.
“He said yesterday that he wanted to shoot on the court,” Kerr said of Curry, according to The San Francisco Chronicle. “I think it’s purposeful. I think he wants to feel the crowd and show the crowd that he wants to come back. So that’s the hope. He’ll have another scrimmage here in the next couple days — I think tomorrow — and we’ll see how he feels after that.”
Just how likely is Curry to return Sunday against Houston?
That’s the entire idea now.
According to reports, Curry has made it his goal to return in three days for an inner-conference tilt against the erratic Rockets.
If Curry suits up for that game, he’ll have missed the previous 27 contests in a row. It will be his first game in (count ‘em) 65 days. That’s nearly the equivalent of the NBA offseason following the two COVID-19 impacted seasons.
The Warriors will be at home Sunday, so that means even better for a potential Curry comeback.
Worst case, Golden State has lost three in a row to drop to 36-41 if Curry plays against Houston. The team could quickly put that stretch behind it thanks to the energy and spirit delivered by Curry’s return in front of the home crowd.
Chase Center will be more boisterous than ever this season, and that could be the jolt the Dubs need to close out the year strong.
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