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Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors winces as he walks up court during the first half against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center on January 28, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
In a concerning development, Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr revealed on Wednesday that Stephen Curry may need another MRI to diagnose his right patellofemoral pain syndrome, commonly known as “runner’s knee.”
The sharpshooter missed the last five games before the All-Star break with the same injury, which he sustained during a two-game road trip to Minnesota in late January. Curry braved the injury in the Jan. 25 game against the Timberwolves, but missed the subsequent back-to-back and returned to the lineup for two more games before aggravating the injury. He hasn’t been seen in action since he limped off the court in the third quarter of the Jan. 30 loss to the Detroit Pistons.
“It’s unfortunate, but we’ll have an update tomorrow after he goes through his time with the training staff tonight,” Kerr said of Curry, who did not engage in Tuesday’s scrimmage as he felt he wasn’t ready, via NBC Sports Bay Area.
Stephen Curry Injury Update
Curry, who attended the All-Star Game as a spectator, underwent round-the-clock treatment with his trainer but felt he “wasn’t in the right place” upon returning home this week, according to Warriors beat writer Dalton Johnson.
Kerr described Curry’s knee injury as “a little nebulous” while explaining why another MRI could be needed.
“That’s the nature of the injury,” Kerr said.
“I’m not going to do [Rick Celebrini] a disservice and try to explain it myself. That’s just not my area of expertise, but it’s a little tricky. We’re going to keep plugging away with it. Steph will take the right steps. Our training staff will continue to work with him, and now we’ll see where it goes.”
Sports Doctor Offers Two Cents
Renowned sports medicine expert Dr. Nirav Pandya shared his thoughts on Stephen Curry’s injury, and why there may not be a set timeline for the Warriors star’s return.
“Unlike an ankle sprain or a broken bone, “runner’s knee” is a bit more unpredictable in terms of when an athlete returns to play,” Pandya wrote on X.
“It’s not a linear recovery since a lot has to deal how an athlete feels given the irritation around the structures in the front of the knee. Better to allow more recovery in the front end to prevent it from flaring up again with an early return.”
Pandya, a huge Warriors fan who practices sports medicine at UCSF, explained why a second MRI of Curry’s knee could be needed.
“An MRI in the context of “runner’s knee” can determine if there is more / less inflammation in the knee as well look for additional injury (i.e. cartilage) that may not have appeared during initial imaging,” he explained.
The one positive for Golden State is that trade-deadline acquisition Kristaps Porzingis felt “excellent” after Tuesday’s scrimmage and is expected to make his Warriors debut during Thursday’s clash against the Boston Celtics. The Latvian has been dealing with Achilles tendinitis for several months and has been sidelined for most of 2026.
Sai Mohan covers the NBA for Heavy.com. Based in Portugal, Sai is a seasoned sports writer with nearly two decades of publishing experience, including bylines at Yardbarker, FanSided’s Hoops Habit, International Business Times, Hindustan Times and more. More about Sai Mohan
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