Stephen Curry remains cautiously optimistic but clearly frustrated as he continues to rehab a right knee issue (patellofemoral pain syndrome, aka “runner’s knee”) that has sidelined him for the past two games.
Speaking to ESPN after the Warriors’ dramatic 101-97 comeback win over the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night (February 5, 2026), Curry described the injury as “trending in the right direction” but acknowledged it’s still painful and requires careful management:
“It’s different than last year, but something that will heal. It’s a matter of learning as I go what works rehab-wise. Because it’s still painful. You have to try to get rid of all the inflammation and pain. It’s something we still have to monitor and injury-manage, but it’s something where if I come back too early, it could flare up.”
Curry first felt the issue flare during an individual workout about two weeks ago. He missed one game in Minnesota, tried to play through it in the next two, then exited early in a home loss to Detroit in the third quarter (limping to the locker room). He has since been limited to individual rehab work and remains day-to-day, with no firm timeline for return. The Warriors’ next game is Saturday night on ABC against the Los Angeles Lakers — Curry did not sound like someone expecting to play in that nationally televised showcase.
Context & Team Turmoil
The knee problem comes at a brutal time for Golden State (28-24, 8th in the West):
Jimmy Butler is out for the season with a torn ACL (surgery February 9 by Dr. Bert Mandelbaum).The team aggressively pursued Giannis Antetokounmpo but was unable to close a deal, with Milwaukee deciding to keep their star through the deadline.They pivoted to acquiring Kristaps Porziņģis (from Atlanta for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield) and traded Trayce Jackson-Davis to Toronto for a 2026 Lakers second-rounder.
Curry addressed the Giannis chase directly:
“I wasn’t on the phone with [GM] Mike [Dunleavy] and them making calls. I knew there was an offer that was made, as you’d expect. At the end of the day, nobody got him. So that’s the situation right now. For us, our challenge is to try to stay at a level we can be a threat in a playoff series and finish the regular season off strong.”
He expressed excitement about Porziņģis (“I’m learning some Latvian… I’m just hoping that he’s healthy”) and noted the familiarity with Al Horford (former Boston teammates who won a title together in 2024), but he was candid about the adversity:
“I’d rather have Jimmy Butler playing basketball. But it’s our hurdle to overcome as a team. Three weeks ago, we were heading in a certain direction. The record scratched and stopped and now you’re trying to figure out how to get it going again.”
Coach Steve Kerr called the post-win locker-room celebration “felt like we won a championship” — a reflection of the emotional toll of recent setbacks and the relief of grinding out a win without Curry.
Curry’s knee is improving but still painful and unpredictable. The Warriors are managing it carefully to avoid a setback, especially with a back-to-back looming and the play-in race tight. Without Butler and with Porziņģis’ own health questions, Golden State is now in pure survival mode — fighting for a play-in spot while hoping Curry can return soon and Porziņģis can contribute meaningfully.
Warriors fans, this feels like a pivotal stretch. How worried are you about Curry’s knee? Do you trust Porziņģis to stay healthy and make an impact? Or is this season starting to feel like the beginning of the end of the Curry era as a true contender? Drop your thoughts below — the next few weeks will tell us a lot.