Getty
Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors is a four-time NBA champion.
The Golden State Warriors picked up a 109-106 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night at Chase Center. It was not pretty. Twenty-six turnovers against one of the league’s worst defenses, a fourth-quarter comeback required to put away a team that has little interest in winning basketball games right now.
Stephen Curry watched all of it from the bench. He has been watching from the bench since January 30.
Ahead of Wednesday’s game, Steve Kerr was asked about where things stand. His answer was about as direct as it gets.
What Kerr Said About Curry
GettySteve Kerr, Golden State Warriors.
Kerr did not leave much room for interpretation.
“Steph will play when he’s healthy,” Kerr said. “It’s as simple as that.”
It is the kind of statement that closes the door on speculation about timelines and return dates. There is no target game. There is no countdown. Curry plays when the knee is right, and not a moment before.
The context behind that message matters. The Warriors have already watched Jimmy Butler tear an ACL and Moses Moody tear a patellar tendon this season. Both are facing lengthy rehabs that will bleed into next year. Rushing Curry back into a situation that ends with a similar outcome is not something this organization is willing to entertain.
Rick Celebrini, the Warriors’ lead medical decision-maker, has been firm on that throughout the process. Kerr’s quote on Wednesday reflected exactly that approach.
Steve Kerr: “Steph will play when he’s healthy. It’s as simple as that.”
Where Curry’s Recovery Stands
GettyStephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors.
Curry was diagnosed with patellofemoral pain syndrome and bone bruising in his right knee after his last appearance on January 30. The Warriors had pointed toward a March return at various stages of his rehab. That window is now effectively closed with just nine games remaining in the regular season.
Kerr confirmed ahead of Wednesday’s game that Curry has not yet been able to scrimmage. The expectation had been for him to do some live work over the past few days. That has not happened. Another update is expected later this week.
At 38 years old, Curry’s situation requires a level of caution that goes beyond a typical injury return. The Warriors are not going to push their franchise cornerstone back onto the floor before he is genuinely ready, regardless of what the standings look like.
Steph Curry is still yet to scrimmage, per Warriors. Update on him coming later in the week.
What It Means for the Warriors
Golden State sits 35-38 with nine games left, 1.5 games behind the ninth-seeded Portland Trail Blazers. The play-in spot is secure, but the Warriors would rather enter as the eighth seed than the tenth, avoiding the tougher path through the bracket. Whether Curry makes it back in time to factor into that push is the question nobody can answer right now.
Meanwhile, Wednesday’s win over Brooklyn showed both what this team is capable of and where it still falls short. Gui Santos posted a career-high 31 points. Brandin Podziemski scored 22 and finished plus-19 over 35 minutes. Gary Payton II shot 5-of-5 from the field without committing a turnover. The positives were real.
The 26 turnovers were just as real. A fourth-quarter comeback against a Nets team sitting at 17-56 should not be necessary. Without Curry running the offense, the Warriors continue to get in their own way at critical moments.
Final Word for the Warriors
Kerr kept it simple. Steph plays when he is healthy. That is the only timeline that matters.
Nine games remain. The play-in spot is locked in, but the Warriors would rather arrive as the eighth seed than the tenth. A Curry return would go a long way in making that happen. If he does not make it back in time, they will have to find a way without him.
Either way, nobody is rushing anything.
Keith Watkins Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins
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