As the Golden State Warriors hit the All-Star break sitting at 29-26 and clinging to the eighth seed in the Western Conference, all eyes are on one man: Stephen Curry. The two-time MVP has been sidelined with a knee injury, and while the team has managed to stay afloat, there’s no question-this team only goes as far as Curry can take them.
Inside the locker room, there’s a clear understanding of the stakes. The season-ending injury to Jimmy Butler was a gut punch, and Curry’s absence hasn’t helped the morale.
But don’t mistake quiet for resignation. According to those close to the team, Curry is very much locked in, using the All-Star break not just to heal, but to mentally gear up for what he hopes will be a late-season push.
“He knows people have written them off,” said a team insider. “That’s one of the most competitive guys in the league.
He hears the talk-‘The Warriors are done,’ ‘They can’t make anything happen this year.’ He’s using that.
He’s getting himself ready to make a run.”
Let’s be real-nobody’s saying Golden State is about to go on some magical tear to the Finals. But if Curry can return healthy, the Warriors instantly become a team no one wants to see in a seven-game series.
That’s the kind of gravitational pull Curry has. When he’s on the floor, the Warriors’ offense opens up in ways that few teams can replicate, and his presence alone forces opposing defenses into uncomfortable decisions.
Before the injury, Curry was averaging 27.2 points per game, shooting 46.8% from the field and 39.1% from beyond the arc-numbers that speak to his continued elite-level play even in his 15th NBA season. But the Warriors have been cautious with his knee, holding him out for two weeks and counting. The concern isn’t just about getting him back-it’s about making sure he stays back.
“They’re being cautious for a reason,” the insider added. “They don’t want this to turn into something that lingers. But the reality is, you don’t know how the knee will respond until he’s back on the court, running, cutting, doing what he does.”
Golden State made a bold move at the trade deadline, sending out Jonathan Kuminga and bringing in Kristaps Porzingis. It’s a swing that signals belief in the current core-but none of it matters without Curry.
Porzingis adds size and shooting, but the engine of this team has always been Steph. Without him, the Warriors are a good team.
With him? They’re dangerous.
"Steph is well aware that everybody's written them off... he's gearing himself up to make that push in the playoffs because we all agree he doesn't have that many left."
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) February 12, 2026
- @NickFriedell via @SteinyGuru957. pic.twitter.com/67E1CQYvUh
Now, with a few days to rest and recalibrate, the Warriors are hoping Curry can return after the break and lead a charge up the standings. At 29-26, the margin for error is thin. But if Curry’s knee holds up and his competitive fire burns as hot as ever, don’t be surprised if Golden State starts looking a lot more like the team nobody wants to face.