Stephen Curry isn’t back just yet, but the Warriors’ star guard says his right knee is “trending in the right direction.” That’s encouraging news, though he’s set to miss his third straight game on Saturday, and there’s no clear timeline for his return. At 37, Curry knows better than to rush things-especially with a lingering issue like this.
“It’s still painful,” Curry admitted. “You have to try to get rid of all the inflammation and pain.”
He’s been working through rehab, trying to figure out what his body responds to best. It’s a balancing act-push too hard, and the knee could flare up again.
Curry’s been around long enough to understand the risks of returning too soon, especially with the wear and tear of a long NBA season.
While he’s sidelined, Curry’s also keeping an eye on the Warriors’ newest addition: Kristaps Porzingis. The big man has only suited up for 17 games this season due to various injuries, but his potential impact in Golden State is already generating buzz.
“I’m learning some Latvian,” Curry joked when asked about his new teammate. But he quickly turned serious, saying, “I’m just hoping that he’s healthy, first and foremost, so that he can do what he can do on the floor.” Curry referenced Porzingis’ championship run with Al Horford in Boston, noting that while the context is different now, the combination of familiarity, size, and skill is something Golden State has been searching for.
Horford, for his part, is excited to reunite with his former Celtics teammate. “It was special, it was just really fun,” he said of their time together in Boston.
“We all know everything he can do. He can shoot the three, can post up, draw fouls, kind of play the mid-range offensively.
He’s just very potent. Defensively, protects the rim.
I’m just looking forward for him to be here and help us, because I feel like he’ll be a big help for us.”
Golden State’s front office and medical team did their homework before pulling the trigger on the trade. Head coach Steve Kerr made it clear that team health expert Rick Celebrini and his staff thoroughly vetted Porzingis’ condition before the deal was finalized.
“I don’t think we would have made the trade if we didn’t think he could be healthy and consistent in terms of being in the lineup,” Kerr said. “Obviously he’s got to get here and Rick has got to work with him, but Rick and the staff did their due diligence. There’s a hope that we can really help him get right.”
Kerr didn’t hold back on what Porzingis brings to the table: “When he’s right, he’s a hell of a player. We’re looking at a guy who really fits what we need: Size, space, shooting, rim protection.
Every team needs that, but we’ve always needed that since I’ve been here. We’ve never really had a player like him.”
Still, Kerr acknowledged the team’s ceiling may have dropped after Jimmy Butler’s torn ACL. That’s a major blow. But even without Butler, Kerr believes the Warriors can make noise in the postseason.
“We still have a good team,” Kerr said. “A very good team.
Even without Jimmy, we can make a playoff run. The ceiling is absolutely lower.
I’m not going to sit here and lie.”
Draymond Green echoed that cautious optimism. The veteran forward likes the Porzingis fit, but admitted the trade deadline brought some personal anxiety. Green revealed he was nervous about being included in potential deals-especially those involving superstar names like Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“It got nerve-wracking towards the end,” Green said after Thursday’s comeback win over Phoenix. “But yeah, it is what it is.
Move forward. It’s not something I want to get used to, though.”
So here’s where the Warriors stand: Curry’s still working his way back, Porzingis is on the way, and the roster-while shaken-still has the pieces to be competitive. The path to contention may be murkier now, but with a healthy Porzingis and a rejuvenated Curry, Golden State isn’t out of the fight just yet.