Stephen Curry’s trip to China sparked a wave of unnecessary panic after a video of the Warriors star getting out of a car in Beijing started making the rounds online. The clip showed Curry appearing to move a little stiffly on his way to a workout, but the reaction went way beyond what the moment actually showed.
There are plenty of reasons not to read too much into it. Curry had just made a long flight from San Francisco to China, a trip that runs roughly 13 to 15 hours, and he was stepping out of a car after sitting for that stretch. That’s not exactly the kind of setup that leaves anybody looking loose and springy.
It also doesn’t help that the first day or two in a new country can leave players dragging a bit, especially after crossing into a totally different time zone. Even the Los Angeles Rams’ rough outing against the San Francisco 49ers in Australia was mentioned as a reminder of how travel can sap a team’s energy early on.
And then there’s the bigger picture with Curry himself. He’s 38-years old-and dealt with runners’ knee last season, which kept him out for a good chunk of the year. At this stage, expecting him to bounce around like he’s still in his twenties is asking for something that just isn’t realistic.
That’s why the video shouldn’t be taken as proof that Curry is finished or that he’s suddenly headed for a tiny workload next season. If anything, it’s a reminder that he won’t be around forever, and Warriors fans should appreciate him while he’s still in uniform.
Curry still showed last season that he can do damage when he’s on the floor. In two straight games against Victor Wembanyama, he got the better of the young star, which shut down plenty of the “Unc” slander about whether he can still hang with the next wave.
The bigger issue for Golden State is how to manage him from here. Steve Kerr is going to have to be smart about keeping Curry fresh and cutting down on the wear and tear that builds over a long season.
That likely means no more back-to-backs for Curry, and his minutes will need to be watched closely. The challenge, of course, is that the Warriors have not been nearly as effective when he’s off the floor, which makes the balancing act even tougher as they try to get back to the playoffs.
Still, the path forward is pretty clear. Resting Curry matters, and it has nothing to do with how he looked getting out of a car in Beijing. It has everything to do with the fact that he’s 38 and probably only has a few more NBA seasons left.
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Warriors Look Even Smarter For Standing Firm On Jonathan Kuminga
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Months later, Golden States patience looks a lot sharper. Kuminga was eventually re-signed and then sent to Atlanta in the Kristaps Porzingis deal, a sequence that has aged well in hindsight for the Warriors. The return package the Kings once dangled has only become less enticing, with Carter now having been waived by Atlanta and drawing interest from Boston as he works through waivers. [Read more 🡒]