The Golden State Warriors have been stuck in the Western Conference play-in picture as the 10th seed, and the numbers tell a painful story: 9-18 in the 27 games since Stephen Curry last suited up on January 30. The slump has been tough for fans and the locker room alike.
That all changes Sunday night at Chase Center when the Warriors host the Houston Rockets — because Superman is officially back.
Before Curry even steps foot on the floor, Gary Payton II delivered a blunt, memorable line that perfectly captured what his teammate’s return means to the entire group.
GP2’s Viral 10-Word Quote on Curry’s Return
When asked what having Curry back does for him personally, Payton didn’t hesitate:
“I get layups. Wide open layups.”
He went even further when pressed about what the Warriors can still achieve this season with their superstar healthy:
“Whatever we put our mind to. Now that Superman’s back.”
That short, powerful quote quickly lit up Warriors Nation. And the stats back it up completely. Golden State has posted a dominant 118.0 offensive rating with Curry on the court this season. Without him, it plummets to 110.2. The difference is massive. Defenses instinctively collapse on Curry the second he crosses half-court, creating instant space, easy reads, and — yes — wide-open layups for teammates like Payton II.
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The energy inside the Warriors facility shifted noticeably once Curry’s return became official. After more than two months of uncertainty, the locker room finally has its spark back.
Curry Opens Up About the Frustrating Knee Injury
The injury first appeared during a workout in late January. Curry tried to play through it initially, but the pain forced him to shut it down. The diagnosis was patellofemoral pain syndrome — often called “runner’s knee.” There was no structural damage, but the condition proved unpredictable and impossible to rush.
“I thought I was going to be out a week. Ten days max,” Curry said. “But every time I got on the court or tried to push it in that first month, there was always a reaction.”
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He described the rehab as a constant cycle of hope followed by setbacks. Mornings started with checking how the knee felt, with no clear timeline. He targeted returns after the All-Star break, then a March road trip, only to suffer another flare-up in Atlanta when he thought he was close.
“You’d start running and doing your normal workout,” Curry explained. “Toward the end of the session, you’d start to feel the pain creep back in and the next day it’d be awful. Played that song and dance so many times over the last two months.”
After advancing to full 5-on-5 scrimmages and receiving full medical clearance, Curry is set to return Sunday night against the Rockets. He is listed as questionable but is widely expected to play barring any last-second issues.
Curry on His “New Normal” at Age 38
At 38 years old with one year left on his current deal and plans to keep playing beyond that, Curry was asked if this knee issue will be something he has to manage long-term.
“Yes and no,” he replied. “There’s nothing structurally wrong with my knee. So it’s not like I’m compromised out there. It is a new normal, though, if that makes sense.”
He added that he plans to use the upcoming offseason for a full reset and feels confident he now understands how to handle this new reality heading into Sunday.
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Head coach Steve Kerr, who watched Curry scrimmage, offered high praise:
“He’s the greatest face of a franchise in any sport I’ve ever seen. We owe it to our fans to give them the opportunity to watch Steph Curry play basketball this year.”
What’s Still Possible for the Warriors?
The path ahead is steep. The Warriors must win two play-in games on the road — likely against a combination of the Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Clippers, or Phoenix Suns — just to reach the playoffs. A first-round matchup against either the Oklahoma City Thunder or San Antonio Spurs would follow.
Curry kept it straightforward when asked about the immediate goals:
“Hopefully win two play-in games. Then we can have another conversation.”
After 27 games without their leader, two months of unpredictable rehab, and a slide that dropped them to the 10th seed with just five regular-season games left, the mood has completely flipped.
Superman is back at Chase Center on Sunday night against the Rockets.
The play-in tournament is the first mission. Everything after that? We’ll figure it out once those two wins are secured.
Warriors Nation has been waiting for this moment. The fun is just getting started.