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SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 25: Kristaps Porzingis #7 of the Golden State Warriors looks on during a break in play against the Brooklyn Nets during the first half at Chase Center on March 25, 2026 in San Francisco, California.
The Golden State Warriors are preparing to welcome Stephen Curry back to the floor on Sunday night against the Houston Rockets at Chase Center. The 38-year-old has missed the last 27 games. Golden State went 9-18 without him and slid to the tenth seed in the Western Conference.
The roster Curry returns to looks nothing like the one he left. Kristaps Porzingis arrived before the trade deadline in a deal that sent Jonathan Kuminga to the Atlanta Hawks. Sunday will be the first time they share the court.
Curry was asked about what the partnership could look like. His answer made it clear how much he has been thinking about it.
Curry on The Fit With Porzingis
Curry did not hold back when describing what he sees in the pairing.
“I was telling him, ‘I don’t know how people are gonna guard our pick-and-roll,” Curry said. “Anytime you have a talent like that, and two guys that can demand attention, it’s always a good thing.”
The excitement was genuine. Curry spoke about Porzingis’s ability to stretch the floor as a shooting big, operate in the post, and force defenses into difficult choices. The geometry of the pick-and-roll between two players with that kind of gravity creates problems that most defenses simply cannot solve cleanly.
Curry acknowledged there will be an adjustment period as the two figure out timing and reads together. But the foundation is there, and the anticipation is real.
What Porzingis Has Done Without Curry
Porzingis has been productive since arriving in the Bay Area despite the team’s struggles around him.
He is averaging 17.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists across 12 games as a Warrior. The offensive skill set has been evident from the start. His ability to score from all three levels gives Golden State a dimension they lacked before the trade.
Porzingis himself has spoken about the anticipation of playing alongside Curry. He said recently that he believes they will click and pointed to the defensive attention Curry draws as something that will simplify scoring opportunities for everyone on the floor.
The trade cost Golden State a former lottery pick in Kuminga. The organization made it clear at the time that they saw Porzingis as more than a rental. General manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. described the move as part of the team’s broader vision, not just a short-term play for this season.
GettyKristaps Porzingis of the Golden State Warriors.
The Stakes for the Final Stretch
Curry’s return comes with the play-in tournament approaching fast. Golden State sits tenth in the West. Winning two play-in games on the road would be required just to reach the first round.
The window to build chemistry between Curry and Porzingis is narrow. Every minute they share the court between now and the postseason matters.
Porzingis enters free agency this summer. How the partnership with Curry looks over the final stretch could influence whether he sees Golden State as his long-term home. He has spoken about the quality of the organization’s medical staff and the comfort he feels in the building. But he has also been honest about needing to see what is out there after a season that did not go as planned.
The next few weeks will tell both sides everything they need to know.
GettyStephen Curry is set to return against the Houston Rockets.
Final Word for the Warriors
Curry and Porzingis have talked about it. They have imagined what the pick-and-roll could look like. They have expressed belief that the fit will work. None of that matters until they step on the court together.
Sunday night against Houston is the beginning.
Curry said he does not know how people will guard it. The rest of the league is about to find out.
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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