SAN FRANCISCO — In a lengthy news conference on Saturday, ahead of his anticipated return Sunday night, Golden State Warriors icon Stephen Curry shed light on the persistent and “unpredictable” right knee injury that has kept him off the court for the previous 27 games.
“I believed I’d only be sidelined for about a week, ten days at most,” Curry stated. “However, throughout that initial month, any attempt to resume playing or exert myself on the court consistently triggered a reaction. It became clear the healing process wasn’t as swift as anticipated.”
Curry’s right knee began experiencing pain and swelling on January 24th, following a workout session in Minneapolis. He continued playing for several games despite the discomfort before ultimately being removed from the lineup on January 30th.
Having been out for over two months due to what’s been diagnosed as “runner’s knee,” Curry recently progressed to 5-on-5 scrimmages last week. This development finally led to medical clearance for his return against the Houston Rockets on Sunday night at the team’s home arena.
While officially listed as questionable, he is widely anticipated to play, provided no unforeseen complications arise within the next 24 hours.
“Each morning upon waking, my primary thought revolves around the state of this [knee],” Curry revealed. “That has been a constant challenge throughout this entire ordeal, even presently. Despite feeling good right now, I sincerely hope it remains this way. Ultimately, it boils down to stepping onto the court and experiencing it firsthand.”
While sidelined, Curry celebrated his 38th birthday in mid-March. With one season remaining on his current contract, he has previously expressed a desire to extend his career beyond that. He was questioned about whether this recurring knee issue would require ongoing management for the remainder of his playing career.
“Yes and no,” Curry replied. “Structurally, there’s no damage to my knee, so it’s not as though I’ll be hindered on the court. However, it does represent a ‘new normal,’ if that clarifies it.”
Curry emphasized that this injury felt distinct from his previous ankle, knee, or tailbone ailments, primarily because it lacked a clear recovery timeline. Furthermore, he was unable to simply power through the discomfort or remain on the court during its final healing stages.
Initially, Curry anticipated a return in mid-February, post-All-Star break. He then targeted a March road trip to the Eastern Conference. He also disclosed a setback a few weeks prior in Atlanta, occurring just as he felt on the cusp of a comeback.
Describing the frustrating cycle, Curry explained, “You’d begin running and completing your usual [rehab] workout. Then, as the session neared its conclusion, the pain would start to return, and the following day would be terrible. I’ve gone through that ‘song and dance’ countless times over the past two months.”
Curry rejoins a Warriors squad that significantly dropped in the standings during his absence, compiling a 9-18 record over his 27 missed games. This performance solidified Golden State’s position as the 10th seed in the Western Conference, with just five regular-season games remaining.
As Curry indicated, the outcome of the Warriors’ last five regular-season games holds little significance. They are slated for the lower half of the play-in tournament bracket and will be required to secure victories in two elimination games on the road, facing potential opponents such as the Blazers, Clippers, and Suns.
Should they manage to achieve that feat, they would advance to the playoffs as the eighth seed, earning a first-round series matchup against either the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder or the surging San Antonio Spurs.
“Our hope is to win two play-in games,” Curry stated. “Only then can we revisit this discussion.”
Curry affirmed that he never seriously contemplated ending his season early, and Warriors coach Steve Kerr corroborated that the organization never even discussed such an option with him.
“He embodies the greatest face of a franchise I have ever witnessed,” Kerr commented. “We have a responsibility to our supporters to provide them the chance to see Steph Curry compete on the basketball court this year. And Steph himself doesn’t hesitate about that for a second. That’s his desire, that’s our desire, and that’s what our fans expect. Therefore, we are going to make it happen.”