The Golden State Warriors are struggling to stay competitive in the Western Conference without the services of point guard Steph Curry, who has not suited up since the end of January due to a right knee injury. In his absence, Golden State has gone 8‑17, falling to the tenth seed and looking like a long shot to make the NBA playoffs.
Before going down, the 37‑year‑old veteran superstar continued to play at an elite level with no signs of slowing down. Curry averaged 27.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists while shooting 46.8% from the field and 39.1% from beyond the arc across 39 games.
His sustained excellence stems from his off-ball movement and playmaking which have allowed him to remain one of the most efficient high-volume scorers in the league even as he ages.
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Ahead of Wednesday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr spoke with reporters after Tuesday’s practice.
Kerr announced that although Curry would be ruled out for Wednesday’s matchup, he would be upgraded to doubtful for Thursday’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the second half of a back-to-back. It marks Curry’s first status upgrade in two months (h/t Anthony Slater of ESPN).
Kerr also noted that Curry was a full participant in practice with full contact and would also be participating in five-on-five scrimmaging. That development represents a meaningful step forward in his recovery.
While injuries around him have dimmed any realistic hope of Curry capturing his fifth NBA championship this season, it is difficult to rule out the point guard entirely if he is able to return before the end of the year. His right knee finally appears to be responding to treatment, and the Warriors remain optimistic he will be back on the floor soon.
Curry has nothing left to prove, as he is a first ballot Hall of Famer the moment he retires. He is a two-time MVP, 12-time All Star, 11-time All NBA selection and a two-time scoring champion. Still, he continues to perform at an elite level, and adding another ring would only strengthen one of the greatest legacies in basketball history.
If Curry returns healthy, Golden State’s season may not be as close to finished as it currently appears.
