The Golden State Warriors received a major blow Wednesday when Stephen Curry skipped the expected full practice, throwing his availability for Thursday’s massive matchup against the Boston Celtics into serious doubt.
According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, Warriors coach Steve Kerr confirmed that Curry and the training staff decided against pushing through a complete workout after the superstar guard reported he simply wasn’t ready.
“Steve Kerr said Warriors’ training staff and Steph Curry opted against the full workout tonight when he reported not feeling it ready,” Slater posted on X. “Called the ‘runner’s knee’ issue Curry is dealing with nebulous. ‘We’ve got to be certain. He’s got to be certain.’”
The timing couldn’t be worse. Golden State hosts the defending champion Boston Celtics on Thursday night at Chase Center in their first game back from the All-Star break — and now the face of the franchise is a major question mark.
Curry’s Status Looms Large as Award Eligibility Teeters on the Edge Curry has already missed the Warriors’ last five straight games with the lingering knee problem. One more absence on Thursday would leave him with zero margin for error on end-of-season awards.
The 37-year-old has sat out 16 games this season. NBA rules require at least 65 appearances to qualify for major individual honors — meaning Curry can miss only one more contest the rest of the year.
Kerr said Curry was scheduled to meet with the medical staff later Wednesday night for further evaluation, as the Warriors continue taking an extremely cautious approach with their all-time great.
Injury Also Robbed Curry of All-Star Glory The same knee issue already cost Curry his All-Star Weekend, including the game itself. He had been voted a starter for what would have been his 12th appearance and was the only starter over age 31.
While the decision was precautionary, it showed just how seriously Golden State is protecting its franchise cornerstone as the season heads into the final stretch.
Knee Trouble Has Been Brewing for Weeks This didn’t happen overnight. Curry first appeared on the injury report six days before things flared up, after swelling and soreness followed an individual workout in Minneapolis.
The Warriors initially called it patellofemoral inflammation — better known as runner’s knee.
He was questionable against the Timberwolves, played through the pain in a win, then sat out the Jan. 26 rematch. He returned Jan. 28 in Utah and Jan. 30 versus Detroit — only for the knee to blow up midway through that 131–124 loss.
Curry grimaced after driving to the basket, favored his right leg, and exited soon after. He was later seen icing the knee and limping out of the arena.
Curry Himself Warns Against Rushing Back After Golden State’s 101–97 comeback victory in Phoenix, Curry told Slater his recovery was moving forward but stressed the need for patience.
“It’s different than last year, but something that will heal,” he said.
He was blunt about the danger of returning too soon: “If I come back too early, it could flare up. It’s something we still have to monitor and injury-manage.”
Why Runner’s Knee Is a Nightmare for Curry’s Style Curry isn’t just the greatest shooter ever — his game is built on constant motion: endless relocation, cutting, off-ball screens, and lightning-quick changes of direction.
That non-stop movement puts relentless stress on the knees, making inflammation incredibly difficult to manage. Orthopedic experts recommend rest, careful load management, targeted strengthening, and bracing. Playing through ongoing pain risks turning a short-term issue into a chronic nightmare.
“It’s a matter of learning as I go what works rehab-wise,” Curry said. “Because it’s still painful. You have to try to get rid of all the inflammation and pain.”
Warriors Forced to Choose Between Now and Forever With playoff positioning and award eligibility hanging in the balance, Golden State faces the same high-stakes dilemma it has navigated for years: how to balance short-term desperation with long-term protection of their greatest player.
For now, the Warriors are choosing certainty over risk — refusing to put Curry back on the floor until he and the medical staff are 100% confident.
But with the Celtics coming to town Thursday, the Bay Area is holding its breath. Disaster may be looming if the Warriors have to face Boston without their Splash Brother.