Stephen Curry to Miss All-Star Game with Knee Injury, Warriors Navigate Key Absences Ahead of Break
Stephen Curry won’t be suiting up for this year’s All-Star Game - and this time, it’s not a rest decision or load management. It’s injury-related, and it’s significant. The Warriors’ franchise cornerstone is dealing with patellofemoral pain syndrome in his right knee - commonly known as runner’s knee - and the lingering discomfort has already sidelined him for four straight games, including tonight’s matchup against the Grizzlies.
Head coach Steve Kerr confirmed what many had feared: Curry is officially out for both the Warriors' upcoming game against Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs, as well as the All-Star festivities. That marks the second time in Curry’s career that he’s been selected as an All-Star but unable to play due to injury. The first came back in 2023, when a leg issue kept him out and Anthony Edwards took his spot.
This time around, the 37-year-old guard is taking a cautious approach. Speaking with ESPN, Curry opened up about the rehab process and the ongoing battle to get back to full strength.
“It’s a matter of learning as I go what works rehab-wise,” Curry said. “Because it’s still painful.
You have to try to get rid of all the inflammation and pain. It’s something we still have to monitor and injury-manage, but it’s something where, if I come back too early, it could flare up.”
That’s the kind of calculated patience you’d expect from a veteran who understands the stakes - not just for the All-Star Game, but for the Warriors’ playoff hopes down the stretch.
Curry’s absence puts him alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the only initially-selected All-Star starters expected to miss the weekend. And the list of potential absentees doesn’t stop there - Giannis Antetokounmpo is also dealing with a calf injury, and Edwards, ironically, may not participate this time either. It’s shaping up to be a star-light All-Star weekend.
Before the injury, Curry was still putting up elite numbers: 27.2 points, 4.8 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game, shooting 46.8% from the field and 39.1% from deep - vintage Steph efficiency. But the Warriors now have to navigate a stretch without their leader, and he’s not the only one missing.
Kristaps Porzingis is also out through the All-Star break, the team confirmed just hours before the Curry news dropped. While his absence isn’t expected to extend beyond the break, it adds to the Warriors’ current depth concerns.
And then there’s Jimmy Butler. The veteran forward recently underwent successful ACL reconstruction surgery in Los Angeles, performed by Dr.
Bert Mandelbaum, a respected name in sports medicine. Butler’s injury, suffered in a game against the Heat, has already cost him nine games and will sideline him for the rest of the season.
The organization expects him to return next year, with Butler set to earn $56.8 million in the 2026 season.
So with Curry, Porzingis, and Butler all out, the Warriors are navigating a tough stretch, short-handed and looking for answers. But even without their stars, they showed some serious fight tonight.
Facing the Grizzlies, Golden State locked in defensively when it mattered most, holding Memphis to just five points over the final eight minutes. That late-game clampdown helped the Warriors escape with a gritty 114-113 win at Chase Center - a win that says a lot about the depth and resolve of this squad.
The Warriors will head into the All-Star break hoping to get healthier - and fast. Curry’s status will be reevaluated after the break, and Porzingis is expected back.
If they can get their core back on the floor, this team still has the tools to make a push. But for now, it’s about surviving the stretch, staying competitive, and giving their stars the time they need to heal.