SAN FRANCISCO — In a major update that sent shockwaves through the NBA world, the Golden State Warriors dropped a bombshell Thursday evening regarding their superstar Steph Curry’s troublesome right knee.
The team officially announced that Curry underwent an MRI, with results confirming no structural damage — a huge relief for fans fearing the worst. However, the 37-year-old legend will still be sidelined for the next 10 days, forcing him to miss Golden State’s upcoming five games.
“It’s just lingering soreness, and we were hoping obviously that he’d be ready for tonight after getting the All-Star break off, but that wasn’t the case,” head coach Steve Kerr said. “He just needs more time.”
The earliest possible return for Curry is the March 2 home matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Curry will sit out his sixth straight game Thursday night when the Warriors host the Boston Celtics. He’s been battling patellofemoral pain syndrome (commonly known as runner’s knee) in his right knee. Despite resting throughout the entire All-Star break — aside from one viral long-range jumper he hit during an NBC broadcast appearance — the soreness has persisted.
The injury can only be managed through rest, and Curry did not take part in Wednesday’s practice.
Through 39 games this season, Curry continues to lead the Warriors in scoring at 27.2 points per game. He also tops the entire NBA in threes made per game (4.5) and free-throw percentage (93%), proving he remains one of the most dominant players in the league.
Unfortunately, because the NBA requires players to appear in at least 65 games to be eligible for major season-end awards like All-NBA or MVP, Curry’s campaign for another All-NBA selection is now officially over. Thursday’s contest against Boston will mark his 17th missed game of the season, and missing even one more would mathematically eliminate him from award contention.
That’s the least of the Warriors’ worries right now as they head into a grueling 27-game sprint to the postseason.
Golden State returns from the break in eighth place in the Western Conference, sitting 4.5 games behind the Phoenix Suns for the final guaranteed playoff spot.
The situation is even more challenging because the Warriors are already without their “Robin” to Curry’s “Batman.” Jimmy Butler suffered a torn ACL last month and is expected to miss the remainder of this season and likely start next season on the sideline as well.
“It’s a little tricky, but we’re going to keep plugging away at it, and Steph will take the time he needs to get fully healthy,” Kerr added.
For now, the Warriors must find a way to survive without their two biggest stars — but everyone in the Bay Area is breathing easier knowing Curry’s knee is structurally sound and a return is on the horizon.