Stephen Curry is expected to be on the floor when the Golden State Warriors open their season against the Los Angeles Lakers, but his status still isn’t fully official.
The concern started during an open practice, when Curry suffered a non-contact injury and then walked back to the locker room after initially trying to let fans know he was okay. After practice, head coach Steve Kerr said Curry was fine, easing the panic around the Warriors’ star guard.
By the next day, Curry was a full participant in practice, and Kerr said he would be good to go against the Lakers. Even so, he remains on the injury report for now, and the final answer won’t come until he actually takes the floor.
For now, Curry is listed as probable, which points strongly toward him playing in the opener. That’s a relief for Golden State, which needs its top player available as the season begins. As the source makes clear, the Warriors’ ceiling rises and falls with Curry, and he gives them their best shot whenever he’s out there.
Golden State is already juggling other injury concerns. Jimmy Butler is still rehabbing from his ACL injury last year, with no timeline for a return. Kristaps Porzingis remains sidelined by the illness he’s dealt with for the last few years, and neither the team nor Porzingis knows when he’ll be back.
Brandin Podziemski is the latest addition to the list, ruled out because of low back soreness.
So the Warriors head into the opener short-handed in more than one spot, with Curry carrying the biggest load as they take on the Lakers.
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