The former MVP has missed 27 games with a knee injury suffered in January and is expected to be released for this weekend’s game against Houston. His timeline has been confusing throughout, with the injury initially presented as non-serious and later described by the Warriors as patellar-femoral pain syndrome and bone bruising in his right knee.
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Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Curry was asked about the recovery process. He described it as a frustrating few months, via ESPN’s Anthony Slater:
“At first it was more of a mental thing, meaning I didn’t know enough about it. I thought I was going to be out for a week. Ten days tops, let it cool down. Every time I went on the court or tried to force it in that first month, there was always… I wouldn’t call it a reaction, it just wasn’t healing as fast as I thought.“The patience then was tough just because it’s one of those injuries that you really have to let it rest. There’s nothing you can get through or be on the court while it heals. It’s just a different experience than most injuries I’ve had, which had a very defined timeline and process.”
Curry went on to clarify that there was no structural damage to his knee (e.g. a torn ligament), but he is apparently still learning how his leg works:
“There’s nothing structurally wrong with my knee, so it’s not like it’s compromised. It’s a new normal, though, if that makes sense.”
“It’s just a matter of understanding what I need to do off the court to make sure everything around my knee is strong and working the right way. I’ll make the most of the offseason, whenever that may be, to do a complete reset. And then you just figure out what next year is going to be like.”
At 38 years old, any prolonged absence will raise concerns for Curry, who has a history of injuries dating back to the early years of his career. The Warriors continue to operate with the assumption that he can control the floor like the greatest shooter of all time, so they hope the offseason is a proper reset.
Stephen Curry is almost back, but what’s left to do?
(Ezra Shaw via Getty Images)
It wouldn’t have been a surprise for Curry and the Warriors to simply shut him down for the rest of the season instead of sending him back for five games and whatever happens in the postseason. Key contributors Jimmy Butler III and Moses Moody are already out for the season and the team sits in 10th place in the Western Conference.
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They’re in no danger of being knocked out of the play-in tournament, but all a couple of wins after the regular season would do is set up a seven-game series with the West-leading Oklahoma City Thunder.