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Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry reacts. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The latest medical update on Stephen Curry offered a measure of relief for the Golden State Warriors, even as uncertainty continues to cloud their playoff push.
According to Dr. Nirav Pandya, a professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco, and director of sports medicine at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, the absence of structural damage in Curry’s right knee is an encouraging sign — but far from a green light.
Clean MRI Brings Cautious Optimism for Warriors
“Good news that the new MRI did not show any structural abnormalities,” Dr. Pandya wrote on X. “The key is now getting the pain and swelling under control such that he can perform effectively on the court and not risk secondary injury. Rest and rehab are key with ‘runner’s knee’ as this is irritation of the tissues around the front of the knee.”
Pandya’s assessment followed reporting from ESPN’s Shams Charania, who revealed Thursday on NBA Today that Curry’s MRI showed no ligament or cartilage damage — but did confirm ongoing inflammation.
“I’m told an MRI in the last 24 hours on Stephen Curry showed no structural issue in his right knee,” Charania said. “But he is dealing with persistent swelling and pain in that knee. The team is describing it as ‘runner’s knee’ as the injury.”
Charania added that both Curry and the Warriors must wait for the swelling to subside before any return timeline becomes clearer.
“It’s uncertain whether that will be days or weeks away,” Charania said.
A Lingering Issue, Not a New One for Warriors Star
ESPN’s Warriors insider Anthony Slater described the situation as a classic “good news, bad news” scenario.
“There’s no underlying structural issue that is of graver concern,” Slater said. “But this is something he’s been dealing with for over a month now.”
According to Slater, the knee irritation first surfaced during a workout in Minnesota on the day Golden State’s game against the Timberwolves was postponed. Curry attempted to play through it, but the symptoms resurfaced.
“He played through it a little bit,” Slater said. “And then it started to bother him again.”
The timing could not be worse for a Warriors team fighting to stay afloat in the crowded Western Conference playoff picture.
Curry’s Absence Casts Shadow Over Key Stretch
Curry’s injury has already complicated what was expected to be a celebratory stretch for Golden State, particularly with the debut of trade-deadline acquisition Kristaps Porziņģis looming against the Boston Celtics.
Porziņģis practiced with the Warriors this week and immediately impressed head coach Steve Kerr with how seamlessly he fit into Golden State’s system.
“He’s an easy fit,” Kerr said via ESPN. “You don’t have to change a whole lot.”
Kerr emphasized Porziņģis’ ability to punish switches in the post — an area Golden State has leaned into more frequently this season.
“He provides post-ups,” Kerr said. “You throw him the ball at the foul line, the elbows, even the low block — he can score in those spots.”
Warriors Adjust Offense Around Porziņģis
Golden State has already begun adjusting its spacing and offensive reads to maximize Porziņģis’ strengths, even as Curry remains sidelined.
“We worked on our spacing around him,” Kerr said. “We have to recognize mismatches, and everybody has to understand the spacing.”
While the Warriors’ post-touch numbers were previously influenced by actions designed around Jimmy Butler as a facilitator, Kerr acknowledged the approach remains conceptually similar.
“It’s a little different than the spacing around Jimmy,” Kerr said. “Jimmy attacked the paint and kicked out. Kristaps is more of a scorer and shooter from isolation spots. But the concepts are similar.”
Veteran guard De’Anthony Melton described Porziņģis as a unique matchup problem for opposing defenses.
“He’s a matchup nightmare for a lot of teams,” Melton said via The Athletic. “That kind of size and skill changes how teams have to defend you.”
The Stakes Without Curry
Still, no schematic adjustment can fully replace Curry’s presence.
Without their franchise cornerstone, the Warriors face a precarious stretch that could determine whether they remain in the play-in picture or slide further down the standings. While the clean MRI eliminates worst-case fears, the reality remains that pain and swelling — not structure — will dictate Curry’s return.
For Golden State, patience may be medically prudent. Whether the standings afford them that luxury is another question entirely.