Stephen Curry is making health the headline of his summer.
The Warriors star said his biggest goal heading into his 18th NBA season is simple: stay on the floor. Curry turned 38 in March and was sidelined for more than two months in the second half of 2025/26 with a right knee injury commonly called runner’s knee. This summer, he’s taking a different approach than usual, spending more time on the golf course and less time on the basketball court.
Curry said his knee is in good shape and explained the mindset behind the lighter workload.
“ Yeah, it’s just a more patient approach,” Curry said. “ Quality over quantity, (with) the idea that I can still get to the level that I need to.”
“ Just being a little bit more mindful of how to balance a four-month summer,” Curry continued. “ Knowing that I need the rest, but I also don’t want to get too far away where it’s hard to get back. So, it’s just being more mindful with timing and spacing throughout the summer.”
Curry also said he’s eager to get on the floor with Golden State’s first-round pick, Yaxel Lendeborg. The former Michigan forward has already made noise in Summer League, following a strong run in the California Classic with an even better performance in Las Vegas. In Thursday’s win over Dallas, he posted 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting, 10 rebounds and six assists in 28 minutes.
“ I watch all the Summer League games. I haven’t been there in person, but he looked very confident, poised and competitive,” Curry said of Lendeborg.
“ He’s a champion. And I’m excited to get out there and figure it out with him.
Rookies are awesome because they bring such good energy to the locker room, especially guys with the talent like him, so that’s what we need.”
LJ Cryer also turned heads Thursday on his two-way deal. The former Houston guard led Golden State with 25 points on 8-of-14 shooting, while adding six rebounds and four assists in 27 minutes. Warriors Summer League coach Khalid Robinson pointed to more than just the scoring.
“ Obviously LJ’s shot making was great, but it was just his decision-making,” Robinson said. “ He picked his spots really well - when to get to the rim, when to pull up, when to kick out to his teammates.”
There’s also a roster wrinkle involving Quinten Post. Golden State did not match the three-year offer sheet he signed with the Grizzlies, with the Warriors preferring a starting salary closer to his $2.6MM qualifying offer than the more than $9MM Memphis put on the table.
The Grizzlies also reportedly used unlikely incentives in the deal, which count against the tax aprons but not the salary cap, making it harder for Golden State to match. Even so, letting go of the former second-round pick without getting anything back was a difficult outcome for the Warriors, especially with Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis not exactly models of durability in 2025/26.
And on the free-agent front, Golden State and Gary Payton II are still circling each other. League sources told Anthony Slater of ESPN that both sides have mutual interest in a reunion.
Payton, a 10-year veteran who has spent parts of six seasons with the Warriors, is known for his athleticism, defensive versatility and ability to finish around the rim. Last season, he averaged 7.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 73 games, playing 15.6 minutes per night.
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